Lilac-breasted Roller
The Latin name is Coracias caudata. The bird’s plumage is particularly striking.
Appearance
The Latin name is Coracias caudata. Particularly striking is the magnificent coloration of the plumage. The chest is colored violet, while the head and nape are green. A white stripe is visible at the beak and above the eyes. The coloration under the eyes is reddish. The belly is blue in color. The lilac-breasted roller grows up to 45 cm in size with a weight of up to 125 grams.
Diet and Offspring of the Lilac-breasted Roller
Its main diet consists of insects, frogs, and lizards. Scorpions and spiders are also part of its diet. Typical of rollers, it spots its prey from a perch. This can be, for example, treetops, utility poles, or fences. The lilac-breasted roller is a cavity nester. This means it builds its nest in a cavity. It particularly likes to use woodpecker holes for this purpose. But cavities in trees are also suitable. The male bird is responsible for building the nesting cavity. The female bird lays two to three eggs in the nesting cavity. Both birds incubate the eggs for the next 18 days.
After the chicks have hatched, the parents care for the offspring for about 35 days. After that, they fledge and leave the nest. However, they are still fed by their bird parents. During these days, the young already learn from their parents how to hunt, so that they can feed themselves afterwards. If hostile birds, such as a hawk, approach the nest with chicks, it is defended fiercely. The bird's beak is mainly used for this. It pecks and scratches with its claws. A special spectacle is the courtship behavior of the lilac-breasted roller.
