The lilac-breasted roller is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches conspicuously at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, lizards, scorpions, snails, small birds and rodents moving about on the ground. Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height, descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes are different in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller and Mosilikatze's roller. Source: Wikipedia
Citation:
Linnaeus, C 1766
Reference:
Systema Naturae ed. 12, vol. 1, part 1
Protonym:
Coracias caudata
Type locality:
Angola.
Link:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/137337#page/164/mode/1up
Avibase ID:
9E9B6EF9A888678F
Avibase ID:
avibase-9E9B6EF9
Short link:
https://avibase.ca/9E9B6EF9
Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 692687
Geographic range:
Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:
African Bird Club Checklist 2004: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2024 (Oct 2024): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 00: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 01: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 02: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 03: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 04: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v9 (Oct 2024): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009): Rollier à longs brins ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993): Rollier à longs brins ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 1st edition: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2021: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2022: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2023: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2024: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 3rd edition: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 4th edition: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (as published): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2015: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2016: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2017: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2018: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2019: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.50: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.52: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.53: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.54: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.55: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2015: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2016: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2017: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2018: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2019: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2021: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2022: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2023: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2024: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.2: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudatus) [version 1] |
Morony, Bock and Farrand: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds: Coracias caudata [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original): Coracias caudata [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition): Coracias caudata [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998): Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0: Lilac-breasted Roller ( Coracias caudata) [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Coracias caudatus [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Coracias caudatus [version 1] |
Taxonomic status:
Species status: full species
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Other synonyms
See also the taxonomic synonyms table.
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