Blue-Bellied Roller
Eats
Generally feed on large invertebrates such as beetles, grasshoppers, winged ants, and termites. They may also feed on some small vertebrates and palm-oil fruits.
Lives
Western and central Africa, from Senegal to southern Sudan, found in wooded savanna, tree plantations, forest edges, recently burned land, and forests near marshes.
Behavior
Blue-bellied rollers will dive straight down towards their prey from 30 feet in the air. They are known to fly towards grass fires to catch the fleeing insects. The call of blue-bellied roller is a harsh clicking ga-ga-ga sound.
Description
They are small birds with relatively large heads. They have downward curved beaks with short legs. This bird has a cream-colored head and chest, with pale-blue bellies and dark green wings. Their tail has 2 streamers that follow behind the rollers in flight.
Did you Know?
During courtship, rollers will roll or tumble through the air and to the ground while calling to their potential mates.