Lilac-breasted Roller

Afrikaans name: Gewone Troupant

Lilac-breasted Roller

Photo © Steven Herbert

Coracias caudatus

The Lilac-breasted Roller is one of the most beautiful birds found in South Africa. Unlike many of the other beautiful birds this one is very obliging and sits quietly on an exposed perch so you can admire it!

This Roller prefers more open habitats but it does need suitable perches from where it can hunt.

Photo © Steven Herbert

It eats a variety of foods including small rodents, insects, lizards, scorpions and others.

The Lilac-breasted Roller nests in a hole in a tree. It doesn't make the hole so it prefers natural holes. Between 2 and 4 eggs are laid.

Male and female have the same plumage.

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References and further reading

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 101

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 96

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 39

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 128

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 388

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 385

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 264

List of South African Birds