Photo: Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-tailed Ground Roller
Uratelornis chimaera
Long-tailed Ground Roller (Uratelornis chimaera) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
The Long-tailed Ground Roller (Uratelornis chimaera) is a member of the Brachypteraciidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 226 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 Uratelornis
- Species chimaera
Quick facts
- Weight
- 226 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Brachypteraciidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Long-tailed Ground Roller (Uratelornis chimaera) is a member of the Brachypteraciidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF coastal far sw Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 226 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 24.9 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-tailed Ground Roller?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is a large bird that weighs around 226 g.
Where does the Long-tailed Ground Roller live?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is found across Africa with a range covering AF coastal far sw Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Long-tailed Ground Roller belong to?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller (Uratelornis chimaera) belongs to the Brachypteraciidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Long-tailed Ground Roller eat?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Long-tailed Ground Roller migrate?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Long-tailed 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 Long-tailed Ground Roller make?
1 real field recording of the Long-tailed 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 Long-tailed Ground Roller's range?
The Long-tailed Ground Roller has a mapped global range of about 10,000 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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