The lilac-breasted roller (scientific name: Coracias caudatus) is a vibrant, multi-colored bird that lives in the woodlands and savannas of eastern and southern Africa. Perched on a branch, lilac-breasted rollers keep a watchful eye and gobble up passing arthropods, such as spiders, locusts, beetles, and praying mantises.
Image by Paulo Mascaretti, via iNaturalist (CC0).
Educator tip: January is Birbfest! Create a classroom wall showcasing students’ drawings of birds of Africa, such as the bateleur, lilac-breasted roller, shoebill, and helmeted guinea fowl.
