Roller
223405
225359791
2008-07-13T07:47:53Z
Anaxial
2273576
biology & ref
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Rollers
| image = LilacBreastedRollerCropped.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = [[Lilac-breasted Roller]]
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
| ordo = [[Coraciiformes]]
| familia = '''Coraciidae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
*''[[Coracias]]''
*''[[Eurystomus]]''
}}
The '''Rollers''' are an [[Old World]] family of [[near passerine]] [[bird]]s, related to the [[kingfisher]]s and [[bee-eater]]s. The group gets its name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights<ref name=EoB>{{cite book |editor=Forshaw, Joseph|author= Forshaw, J. & Kemp, A.|year=1991|title=Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds|publisher= Merehurst Press|location=London|pages= 145-147|isbn= 1-85391-186-0}}</ref>.
==Description==
Rollers resemble [[crow]]s in size and build, ranging from 25 to 27 centimetres in length. They share the colourful appearance of those groups, blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but not the outer one.
They are insect eaters, with ''[[Eurystomus]]'' species taking their prey on the wing, and those of the genus ''[[Coracias]]'' catching it on the ground. They often perch prominently whilst hunting, like giant [[shrike]]s.
These are birds of warm climates. They nest in an unlined tree-hole, and lay 2-4 eggs. The eggs hatch after 17-20 days, and the young remain in the nest for approximately another 30 days<ref name=EoB/>.
==Species==
The eleven species are:
'''FAMILY: CORACIIDAE'''
* '''Genus: ''[[Coracias]]'''''
** [[European Roller]] ''Coracias garrulus''
** [[Abyssinian Roller]] ''Coracias abyssinica''
** [[Lilac-breasted Roller]] ''Coracias caudata''
** [[Racquet-tailed Roller]] ''Coracias spatulata''
** [[Rufous-crowned Roller]] ''Coracias naevia''
** [[Indian Roller]] ''Coracias benghalensis''
** [[Temminck's Roller]] ''Coracias temminckii''
** [[Blue-bellied Roller]] ''Coracias cyanogaster''
* '''Genus: ''[[Eurystomus]]'''''
** [[Broad-billed Roller]] ''Eurystomus glaucurus''
** [[Blue-throated Roller]] ''Eurystomus gularis''
** [[Azure Roller]] ''Eurystomus azureus''
** [[Dollarbird]] ''Eurystomus orientalis''
==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers'' by Fry, Fry and Harris, ISBN 0-7136-8028-8
{{commonscat|Coraciidae}}
==External links==
*[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=92 Roller videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.trakus.org/kods_bird/uye/?fsx=2fsdl15@d&idx=4193 Roller From Turkey]
[[Category:Coraciidae|*]]
[[Category:Bird families]]
[[ca:Coraciidae]]
[[da:Ellekrager]]
[[de:Racken]]
[[es:Coraciidae]]
[[eo:Koraciedoj]]
[[fr:Coraciidae]]
[[lt:Žalvarniniai]]
[[nl:Scharrelaars]]
[[ja:ブッポウソウ科 (Sibley)]]
[[pl:Kraski (ptaki)]]
[[pt:Coraciidae]]
[[ru:Сизоворонковые]]
[[sl:Zlatovranke]]
[[sv:Blåkråkor]]
[[tr:Kuzgunkuşugiller]]
[[vi:Họ chim Sả]]
[[zh:佛法僧科]]