Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)

Afghanistan (B), Bangladesh (B), Bhutan (B), Cambodia (B), China (mainland) (B), India (B), Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B), Iraq (B) (NB), Kuwait, Laos (B), Malaysia (B), Myanmar (B), Nepal (B), Oman (B), Pakistan (B), Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka (B), Thailand (B), United Arab Emirates (B), Vietnam (B).

Vagrant to Maldives, Qatar, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Yemen.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
A harsh crow-like 'chack'. Also, a metallic 'boink'.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (11)...)

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) [XC575121]
by Oscar Campbell from Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India (call, flight call)

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) [XC442867]
by Peter Boesman from Chelamattom part, Ernakulam, Kerala, India (call)

Nest
In the old nest of a woodpecker, or woodboring insects, or in cavities of rotten trees or a building, composed of wood chips and debris and unlined.

Eggs (Guide)
Usually 3 - 5; white; oval. Incubation: 17 - 19 days; by both sexes.

Young
Fledge in about 30 days.

Subspecies
Most closely allied congener is perhaps Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus). May be closely related to Purple-winged Roller (Coracias temminckii). Subspecies affinis sometimes given full species status, but intergrades with nominate subspecies.

The following 3 subspecies are recognised:

benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Eastern Iraq and south-eastern Arabia through northern Pakistan and east to Bangladesh, south to Maharashtra.
indicus Linnaeus, 1766 - Central India (from southern Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh) south to Sri Lanka.
affinis McClelland, 1840 - North-eastern India (Bihar, Assam) east to south-central China (southern Sichuan, Hainan, Yunnan), and south to peninsular Thailand and Indochina. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

For more information about the Indian Roller see... Show Articles

BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Articles about the Indian Roller

If you would like to read any articles about the Indian Roller...

Show Articles (0)

No Pictures of Indian Roller

If Birdpedia has no pictures of Indian Roller or you would like to see more, then try the following...

Show External Images from BING

From BING (10)

No Videos of Indian Roller

If Birdpedia has no videos of Indian Roller or you would like to see more, then try the following..

Show External Videos

From BING (0)