Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Short-legged Ground Roller
Brachypteracias leptosomus
Short-legged Ground Roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
The Short-legged Ground Roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) is a member of the Brachypteraciidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 185 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Brachypteraciidae Ground Rollers
- Genus Brachypteracias
- Species leptosomus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 185 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Brachypteraciidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Short-legged Ground Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Short-legged Ground Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Short-legged Ground Roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) is a member of the Brachypteraciidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, e Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 185 g, with a wing length of about 13.8 cm and a tail of around 12.7 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 39,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Short-legged Ground Roller?
The Short-legged Ground Roller is a large bird that weighs around 185 g.
Where does the Short-legged Ground Roller live?
The Short-legged Ground Roller is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, e Madagascar, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Short-legged Ground Roller belong to?
The Short-legged Ground Roller (Brachypteracias leptosomus) belongs to the Brachypteraciidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Short-legged Ground Roller eat?
The Short-legged Ground Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Short-legged Ground Roller migrate?
The Short-legged Ground Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Short-legged Ground Roller endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Short-legged Ground Roller make?
1 real field recording of the Short-legged Ground Roller — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Short-legged Ground Roller's range?
The Short-legged Ground Roller has a mapped global range of about 39,000 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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