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"For The Love of Africa"

The Lilac Breasted Roller will perch on a dead tree, surveying the area for prey. They swoop down from an elevated perch next to their prey and eat it on the ground or return to a perch where they batter it before swallowing it whole. The Lilac Breasted Roller feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, occasionally lizards, crabs, and small amphibians. It will follow the lead edge of a brush fire and prey on animals escaping the fire.

Grasslands, open woods and regions where palm trees grow singly.  The species ranges more or less continuously throughout eastern and southern Africa from the Red Sea coasts of Ethiopia and northwest Somalia to the Angola coast and northern South Africa. Lilac Breasted Rollers inhabit acacia country with well spaced trees, rolling bushy game lands, riverside areas and cultivated land, but they do not associate with human habitation.

They make unlined nests in natural tree holes or in termite hills. Sometimes they take over woodpecker's or kingfisher's nest holes. They lay 2-4 white eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 22-24 days. At 19 days the chicks are fully feathered and grayish brown.  They drive off many species from near their nest hole, even after breeding.

Photographed and Copyrighted ©2005 - 2011 All Right Reserved By: Harriet Smith

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