Bird · GBIF taxon 5228294
Broad-billed Roller
Eurystomus glaucurusAlso known as Cinnamon Roller, African Broad-Billed Roller
Broad-billed rollers are striking, cinnamon-brown birds with brilliant turquoise wings, blue tails, and bright yellow bills. They spend much of the late afternoon perched high on bare branches, sallying out in acrobatic swoops to capture large flying insects on the wing. During the breeding season, pairs display elaborate flight acrobatics and noisy vocal duets near tree cavity nest sites.
MigratoryInsectivoreColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flying termites
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
Predators
- Raptors
- Tree snakes
- Monkeys
ThreatsDeforestation reducing mature trees with nesting cavities
HabitatsSavanna, woodland edges, riverine forests, clearings
Life span7–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCoraciiformes
- FamilyCoraciidae
- GenusEurystomus
- SpeciesEurystomus glaucurus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scan High Perches: Look for their stocky silhouette and bright yellow bill atop dead snags near forest edges.
- Timing Matters: Watch for peak hunting activity during late afternoon when swarming termites emerge.
- Listen for Calls: Track their presence by listening for harsh, chattering calls echoed between canopy perches.
Palearctic Migrant Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Natasha Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Francesco Veronesi, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) Tony Eales, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.