Indian Blue Roller

Scientific Name: Coracias benghahwsis

Origin: Asia

Description:

Size: 10 cm (4 in)

COCK:

Body: olive green. Breast and stomach: black with white spots. Facial mask: orange-red. Beak: black. Legs: cream.

HEN:

The hen looks similarb to the male specie, but its facial mask is golden beige.

Diet: (Seedeater)

Mixed millets form the staple diet. Millets prays are enjoyed and live food is also necessary. Mealworms and maggots may be fed, if available, and spiders and small smooth caterpillars are very popular with this species. Grit and cuttlefish bone must always be available.

Breeding:

The cock performs his courtship display on the ground, dancing round the hen with a feather in his beak. The hen responds by wagging her tail sideways. A pair should be provided with globular, wicker baskets hung in a well planted aviary. During the breeding season this bird must have live food and only rears young if plenty of insects are provided. The aviary should be well protected from increment weather at all times.

An average clutch of eggs numbers three. The incubation period is 13 days and both parents take turns in sitting. Egg rearing food, soaked seed and soaked bread are useful for helping to feed the young. They fledge in three weeks.

This medium sized soft bill may be kept in harmony in a large aviary with other species, particularly jays, and several members of its own kind, providing that all rollers in a collection are introduced to their accommodation together. This bird is riot aggressive with smaller species, despite its heavy built. However, it does sometimes emit rather harsh grating sounds which may not be enduring for the neighbors! Fortunately, it usually only makes a noise at the beginning of the breeding season.

Indian Blue Roller Information