Coracias caudatus
Few people would fail to be impressed by the beautiful plumage of the Lilac-breasted Roller, especially when seeing those electric colours swooping past in flight!
Lilac-breasted Rollers are inhabitants of the more open woodlands and savannas, often perching quite conspicuously on trees or poles, either singly or in pairs. They are mostly insectivorous in diet, though they will also take small reptiles, frogs, small birds and rodents when the opportunity arises. They’re often seen at veldfires, hawking the small prey items trying to escape the flames. They are acrobatic fliers, hence the name.
Pairs are monogamous and strictly territorial. In South Africa, this species breeds mostly in spring, nesting in abandoned holes made by other birds and animals in trees. Clutches contain 2-4 eggs and are incubated by both parents for just over three weeks.
These colourful birds are common residents of Eastern and Southern Africa, and considered of “least concern” by the IUCN. In South Africa they can be found from Northern Kwazulu-Natal through Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, the North of Gauteng and North-West Province to the Kalahari regions of the Northern Cape.
DeWetsWild 
Wow! Just when I didn’t think birds could get any prettier than they are. This one blows me away😊
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The Rollers are a strikingly beautiful family indeed. Thanks for visiting, and welcome here!
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Thank you!
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Such a beautiful bird 😊 looks like they just took a dip in rainbow colored water, lovely Colors.
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They really look like something out of paradise, don’t they!?
Welcome here, Rekha!
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They do 😊 since you said paradise, they do have Colors similar to that of bird of paradise (the flower)
I am sorry that I some how missed your blog. You followed me long ago, and I just saw it now while going through the stats page. You have a really nice blog. I ll keep visiting often from now on. 😊
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You’ll always be welcome!
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What a beautiful bird! Nature outdid itself. 🙂
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I can only nod in agreement, Hien, thank you!
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Oh, they’re so beautiful!
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A real piece of living art!
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Sjoe – pragtig, pragtig!
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Jy is natuurlik ook goed bekend met die troupante, ne Spokie?
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As if colored by a child gone wild with crayons and presented with beaming pride. Wonderful presentation.
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Beautiful, isn’t it!?
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Yes it is!
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Really? I have never seen them in KZN game reserves.
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SABAP2 shows them to be quite regularly recorded in the big Zululand reserves: http://sabap2.adu.org.za/species_info.php?spp=413#menu_left
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More great photos. The Lilac Breasted Roller is my favourite small bird that populates the Kruger National Park. They don’t live in KZN unfortunately!
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You’ll find them at uMkhuze and northwards from there, Kim.
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Spoggerig
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Baie beslis!
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That is one colourful little guy. It’s like someone used the entire crayon box on him 🙂
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That’s a great way to describe them, thanks Joanne!
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What an amazing little bird – and should be called Joseph – with his coat of many colours!
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And just like Joseph I think this guy is the envy of many others. Thanks a lot, Jude!
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Lovely colors.
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Even more spectacular in real life, Kathy!
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What cuties! And so much color!
They seem to have big heads, compared with their bodies. The Queen of Hearts would love them 😉 (Alice in Wonderland)
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The Queen of Hearts would want to wear them!
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Wow, are they ever beautiful!
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Spectacular – I wish I had a photo of one in flight!
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That is an incredibly beautiful bird! Your photos are stunning!
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Thank you very much, Deb!
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What a beautiful bird. How big a bird is it, and what about wingspan?
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Thanks Dan. It’s about the size of a dove, weighing in at 90 – 130g with a wingspan of just over 50cm
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