Coracias naevius
The Purple Roller occurs fairly widely in the woodland and savannah areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, and the IUCN considers it to be of least concern. Here in South Africa they’re found from the north of Kwazulu-Natal through the Lowveld and Bushveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo to the North West Province and Kalahari regions of the Northern Cape, but isn’t commonly encountered anywhere.
Purple Rollers feed mainly on insects but will also snap up other invertebrates and even small lizards, mice and baby birds! They’re usually seen alone or in monogamous, territorial pairs. Partners perform elaborate aerial courtship displays – hence the family name – and strengthen the pair bond by feeding each other. They usually nest in cavities in dead trees, laying clutches of 2-5 eggs, during spring and summer. Both parents take care of the chicks at the nest. Adults weigh above 150g and measure about 33cm in length.
DeWetsWild 
Terwyl ek na jou foto’s kyk, dink ek ek kan nogal van hulle hou … maar toe lees ek hulle eet ook sommer klein voëltjies. Nou ja, so is die natuur mos nou maar, ne?
Alles deel van n fyn gebalanseerde netwerk, tot ons mense daarmee lol.
Such a beauty
They certainly are, Helen. I’d love to see them more often.
Pretty bird. I’d love to see those aerial antics!
It is amazing to see, Kathy!
These pictures make me long for that part of our country!
Same here, Anne!
Interessante voëltjie, dankie vir die fotos. Nuwe een vir my.
Bly ek kon jou aan een voorstel waarmee jy nog nie bekend was nie, Ineke!
Nooit te oud om iets by te leer nie, nê?
Eat baby birds??!! Their own or others? On the other hand, maybe you shouldn’t answer, Dries. 😬😧
Imagine a bird you really dislike, Lois, and then imagine that those are the ones the Purple Roller eats… 😉
You are funny, Dries.