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.

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) [XC426480]
by Dilip KG from Nameri Eco Camp, Assam, India (call)

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) [XC676839]
by Oscar Campbell from Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (uncertain)

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

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BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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