14

European Roller

(Coracias garrulus)
Size: 30 cm

Sightings

We have first spotted European Rollers on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, in April 2010 (not in winter time).

Photos

Distant, near-frontal view of a European Roller; note the overall turquoise appearance, which is different from that of the Indian Roller

View of the back of a European Roller

Slightly different posture...

European Roller in flight

Food

Like all other members of the roller family, European Rollers feed on large insects that they catch in flight and on small reptiles that they take from the ground.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.