Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Abyssinian Roller
Coracias abyssinicus
Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) is a member of the Coraciidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 102 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Coraciidae Rollers
- Genus Coracias
- Species abyssinicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 102 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Coraciidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Abyssinian Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Abyssinian Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) is a member of the Coraciidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Mauritania to Ivory Coast, e to Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 102 g, with a wing length of about 15.5 cm and a tail of around 12.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Abyssinian Roller?
The Abyssinian Roller is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 102 g.
Where does the Abyssinian Roller live?
The Abyssinian Roller is found across Africa with a range covering AF Mauritania to Ivory Coast, e to Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Abyssinian Roller belong to?
The Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) belongs to the Coraciidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Abyssinian Roller eat?
The Abyssinian Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Abyssinian Roller migrate?
The Abyssinian Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Abyssinian Roller endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Abyssinian Roller make?
1 real field recording of the Abyssinian Roller — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Abyssinian Roller's range?
The Abyssinian Roller has a mapped global range of about 7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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