Roller
Scientific Name: Coracias garrulusMaltese Name: Farrug
Family: Rollers (Coraciidae)
Occurence: Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The European Roller, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco. It is a bird of warm, dry, open country with scattered trees, preferring lowland open countryside with patches of woodland. It typically nests in tree holes. The European Roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw. It is mainly blue with an orange-brown back. Rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat. This species is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. The European Roller has a large global population however the species has been declining, especially in Europe. The declines in the European population has resulted in its Red List status being upgraded from Least Concern to Near Threatened in 2005. Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring. Use of pesticides reduces food availability, and the species is sensitive to changing farming and forestry practices.
Status:
Scarce Migrant, both in Autumn and in Spring.
When to See:
Mostly recorded in Spring from April till mid-June and in Autumn (in smaller numbers) from late August till October.
Where to See:
Can be seen from a wide variety of places including garigue areas, valleys and hills. Buskett and Dwejra are very good spots to see this bird.
Photographs:
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Roller, 25th April 2007, Comino |
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Roller, 25th April 2007, Comino |
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