Indian Roller

Indian Roller

                  Introduction of Indian Roller

        Indian roller (Scientific Name: Coracias benghalensis) is the State Bird of Karnataka. In earlier time it was also known as the Blue Jay. It is a member of the Coraciidae family. The life span of the Indian roller is more or less 18 years .

                    How to identify Indian Roller

       The Indian Roller is around 30 cm long and  It is 13 inch long and  weighs around 80 -100 g.is striking blue in color. Color of It's eyes and bill are black. Bill has a curved upper edge and a hooked tip.The nostril is long and exposed and there are long  bristles at base of the bill. It has a large head and short neck. Its crown, vent, lower wings  are blue green in color. The tail is sky blue in color with a terminal band of blue and the central feathers of tail are dull green.The throat and upper breast are purple in color. The back and abdomen are gray in color.There is a bare patch around the eye . It has three toes and they are united at the base.  Males and females are look similar. The Indian Roller is a stocky bird and can only be confused  with the migratory European Roller.

               Habits and Habitats

        Indian Roller are found at various ecosystems having open areas. They likes open ground, cultivated fields,farmlands, grasslands, local parks and cities, and also found at tropical and subtropical dry forests.
           Distribution 
     The Indian roller is distributed in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
     The subspecies C. b. benghalensis is found  in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
     The subspecies C. b. indicus is distributed in Central and South India and Sri Lanka.
           Food
   Indian roller are omnivorous and  diet of these species is mainly beetles, moths,  crickets,  wasps, ants, caterpillars and  termites. Small vertebrates like frogs, lizards and snakes are also in their food list. 

                   Nesting and Breeding

        In India, the breeding season of these roller species is mainly in March to June. This bird become mature for breeding at  11 – 15 months.  The male display rolling and diving in air as a courtship ritual which is typical of roller bird. These birds are monogamous. They make nest in tree holes, rock crevices and also use abandoned woodpecker holes. Female lays  3 to 5 eggs and the  eggs are white in color and almost spherical in shape. The incubation period of the eggs last for about 16 – 21 days. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and feed the hatchlings. The young bird  stay with their parents until they are two months old.