ROLLERS

ROLLER
SIZE Pigeon; length 30cm(12 in).
FIELD CHARACTERS A striking bright dark-and-light blue bird with biggish clumsy head and crow-like bill. In flight the dark and pale portions of the wings flash as brilliant bands. Below, largely rufous-brown, streaked with blue on throat and washed with purplish on breast; vent and under tail-coverets pale blue. A deep-purple patch under wing (coverts), conspicuous when overhead.
SEXES Alike
STATUS, HABITAT, ETC. Resident, subject to seasonal local movements. Plains, duars and foothills up to 600m: cultivation, and clearing in light forest. Keeps singly or in pairs perched on telegraph wires, poles, etc,. On vigil for creeping prey on the ground. Pounces on quarry and flies back with it lazily to the same or another perch where it is battered and swallowed. Has a spectacular aerial display in breeding season, rocketing vertically, nose-diving, rolling from side to side on the wing and performing fantastic aerobatics to the accompaniment of loud discordant screams, its brilliant plumage flashing in the sun. Sometimes both sexes participate.
FOOD large insects, lizards, frogs, etc.
CALL a loud, raucous kak-kak-kak-kak etc. uttered from perch or during display

BROADBILLED ROLLER
SIZE Pigeon; length 30cm(12 in).
FIELD CHARACTERS A dark purplish brown and blue-black roller, with blackish head and very broad orange–red legs. A large roundish pale blue patch on wings conspicuous in flight.
SEXES Alike
STATUS, HABITAT, ETC. Resident. The entire sub-Himalayas from Garhwal eastward-terai, duars, foothills and up to 1000m: heavy secondary tropical evergreen jungle and cultivation clearing with tall relict trees. Usually singly or pairs, perched on dead trees as lookout posts. Captures winged insects by aerial sorties, performing agile evolutions in their pursuit and returning to base with the quarry. Above, takes creeping prey from the ground. Is less lethargic than common Roller, and markedly crepuscular.
FOOD chiefly large insects; also lizards and other small animals.
CALL raucous chach-chack at intervals, occasionally given as a quick-repeated chattering croak.

HOOOE
SIZE Myna; length 30cm(12in) including long slender bill.
FIELD CHARACTERS A fawn-colored bird with very conspicuous black and white zebra markings above. A prominent full fanlike crest tipped with black and white, which falls into a point behind the head when folded. Long, slender, gently decurved brown bill.
SEXES Alike
STATUS, HABITAT, ETC. Resident and/or summer (breeding) visitor in the Tibetan Plateau facies of the High Himalayas above 1700m, and locally up to 4000m. Descends to lower levels and the duars and adjoining plains in winter. Affects lightly wooded country and the neighborhood of upland villages and dzongs; singly or in separated pairs. Feeds on the ground, running about like quail, probing into loose soil for hidden insects. When thus digging, folded crest sticks out in a point behind head looking like a miniature pick axe. Often indulges in curious erratic butterfly-like flight.

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