The name "purple roller" can also refer to the azure dollarbird (Eurystomus azureus) of Indonesia.
The purple roller (Coracias naevius), or rufous-crowned roller, is a medium-sized bird widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Compared with other rollers its colours are rather dull and its voice harsh and grating.
The purple roller was formally described in 1800 by the French zoologist François Marie Daudin under the binomial nameCoracias naevia. Daudin's description was based on a specimen collected in Senegal.[2] The specific epithet is from Latin naevius meaning "spotted" or "marked".[3] A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018 found that the purple roller was most closely related to the racket-tailed roller (Coracias spatulatus).[4]
Lilac-throated roller (C. n. naevius) – Daudin, 1800: The common name for this subspecies is also used as an alternate name for the lilac-breasted roller. Found from Senegal and Gambia to Somalia and northern Tanzania
C. n. mosambicus – Dresser, 1890: Originally described as a separate species. Found from Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Namibia northern South Africa
DescriptionEdit
Purple roller, or rufous-crowned roller
The purple roller is the largest of the rollers, growing to a length of 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 in). Adults weigh from 145 to 200 g (5.1 to 7.1 oz) with an average weight of 168 g (5.9 oz).[6] From a distance it appears a dull brownish bird with a white stripe over the eye, a patch of white on the nape and a dark tail. Northern populations tend to have a rufus crown while southern populations have a more olive-green crown. The underparts are purplish-pink streaked with white. The wings are long and rounded while the tail is square-cut. The voice is a rather grating "ka" or "gaa", repeated rapidly and evenly.[7]
Behaviour and ecologyEdit
Its preferred habitat is dry thornveld where it spends long periods perched at the top of thorn trees or poles, watching for food items such as insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards on the ground. It rocks to-and-fro about its longitudinal axis during display flights, calling raucously all the while; starting from above the treetops it plummets towards the ground in rolling flight. It is territorial, and during the breeding season will drive off other rollers, small hawks and crows.[7]
This species seems to be an opportunist breeder, possibly linked to rains, as its breeding season varies from place to place. It nests in natural hollows in trees or uses old woodpecker holes, or in cliffs, riverbanks, pipes, or holes in masonry, usually laying three white eggs. The young are fed and incubated by both parents.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Coracias naevius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22682892A92967155. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682892A92967155.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Daudin, François Marie (1800). Traité élémentaire et complet d'ornithologie, ou, Histoire naturelle des oiseaux (in French). Vol. 2. Paris: Chez L'Auteur. pp. 258–259.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 265. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Johansson, U.S.; Irestedt, M.; Qu, Y. & Ericson, P. G. P. (2018). "Phylogenetic relationships of rollers (Coraciidae) based on complete mitochondrial genomes and fifteen nuclear genes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 126: 17–22. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.030. PMID 29631051. S2CID 5011292.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David & Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Rollers, ground rollers, kingfishers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
^Dunning, John B. Jr., ed. (2008). CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses (2nd ed.). CRC Press. ISBN978-1-4200-6444-5.
^ abcFry, C. Hilary & Fry, Kathie (2010). Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 287–288. ISBN978-1-4081-3525-9.
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Purple roller – Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
October 19, 2023
purple, roller, name, purple, roller, also, refer, azure, dollarbird, eurystomus, azureus, indonesia, purple, roller, coracias, naevius, rufous, crowned, roller, medium, sized, bird, widespread, saharan, africa, compared, with, other, rollers, colours, rather,. The name purple roller can also refer to the azure dollarbird Eurystomus azureus of Indonesia The purple roller Coracias naevius or rufous crowned roller is a medium sized bird widespread in sub Saharan Africa Compared with other rollers its colours are rather dull and its voice harsh and grating Purple rollerEtosha National Park NamibiaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClass AvesOrder CoraciiformesFamily CoraciidaeGenus CoraciasSpecies C naeviusBinomial nameCoracias naeviusDaudin 1800SynonymsCoracias naevia Coracias noevia Coracias noevius Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Behaviour and ecology 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy and systematics EditThe purple roller was formally described in 1800 by the French zoologist Francois Marie Daudin under the binomial name Coracias naevia Daudin s description was based on a specimen collected in Senegal 2 The specific epithet is from Latin naevius meaning spotted or marked 3 A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2018 found that the purple roller was most closely related to the racket tailed roller Coracias spatulatus 4 Two subspecies are recognised 5 Lilac throated roller C n naevius Daudin 1800 The common name for this subspecies is also used as an alternate name for the lilac breasted roller Found from Senegal and Gambia to Somalia and northern Tanzania C n mosambicus Dresser 1890 Originally described as a separate species Found from Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Namibia northern South AfricaDescription Edit nbsp Purple roller or rufous crowned rollerThe purple roller is the largest of the rollers growing to a length of 35 to 40 cm 14 to 16 in Adults weigh from 145 to 200 g 5 1 to 7 1 oz with an average weight of 168 g 5 9 oz 6 From a distance it appears a dull brownish bird with a white stripe over the eye a patch of white on the nape and a dark tail Northern populations tend to have a rufus crown while southern populations have a more olive green crown The underparts are purplish pink streaked with white The wings are long and rounded while the tail is square cut The voice is a rather grating ka or gaa repeated rapidly and evenly 7 Behaviour and ecology EditIts preferred habitat is dry thornveld where it spends long periods perched at the top of thorn trees or poles watching for food items such as insects spiders scorpions and small lizards on the ground It rocks to and fro about its longitudinal axis during display flights calling raucously all the while starting from above the treetops it plummets towards the ground in rolling flight It is territorial and during the breeding season will drive off other rollers small hawks and crows 7 This species seems to be an opportunist breeder possibly linked to rains as its breeding season varies from place to place It nests in natural hollows in trees or uses old woodpecker holes or in cliffs riverbanks pipes or holes in masonry usually laying three white eggs The young are fed and incubated by both parents 7 References Edit BirdLife International 2016 Coracias naevius IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22682892A92967155 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22682892A92967155 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Daudin Francois Marie 1800 Traite elementaire et complet d ornithologie ou Histoire naturelle des oiseaux in French Vol 2 Paris Chez L Auteur pp 258 259 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 265 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Johansson U S Irestedt M Qu Y amp Ericson P G P 2018 Phylogenetic relationships of rollers Coraciidae based on complete mitochondrial genomes and fifteen nuclear genes Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 126 17 22 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2018 03 030 PMID 29631051 S2CID 5011292 Gill Frank Donsker David amp Rasmussen Pamela eds January 2021 Rollers ground rollers kingfishers IOC World Bird List Version 11 1 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 22 April 2021 Dunning John B Jr ed 2008 CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses 2nd ed CRC Press ISBN 978 1 4200 6444 5 a b c Fry C Hilary amp Fry Kathie 2010 Kingfishers Bee eaters and Rollers Bloomsbury Publishing pp 287 288 ISBN 978 1 4081 3525 9 Roberts Birds of Southern Africa 6th edition John Voelcker Fund 1993 ISBN 0 620 17583 4External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coracias naevius Purple roller Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Purple roller amp oldid 1116683307, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
