# Purple roller > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Purple_roller > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Purple_roller.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_roller > Source revision: 1339225164 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Species of bird}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} :''The name "purple roller" can also refer to the [azure dollarbird](/source/azure_dollarbird) (''Eurystomus azureus'') of Indonesia.'' {{Speciesbox | image = 150 Purple roller in Etosha National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg | image_caption = [Etosha National Park](/source/Etosha_National_Park), [Namibia](/source/Namibia) | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Coracias naevius'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22682892A92967155 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22682892A92967155.en |access-date=20 November 2021}} | genus = Coracias | species = naevius | authority = [Daudin](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Marie_Daudin), 1800 | synonyms = * ''Coracias naevia'' * ''Coracias noevia'' * ''Coracias noevius'' }} The '''purple roller''' ('''''Coracias naevius'''''), or '''rufous-crowned roller''', is a medium-sized bird widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Compared with other [rollers](/source/Coraciidae) its colours are rather dull and its voice harsh and grating. == Taxonomy and systematics == The purple roller was [formally described](/source/species_description) in 1800 by the French zoologist [François Marie Daudin](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Marie_Daudin) under the [binomial name](/source/binomial_name) ''Coracias naevia''. Daudin's description was based on a specimen collected in Senegal.{{ cite book | last=Daudin | first=François Marie | author-link=François Marie Daudin | year=1800 | title=Traité élémentaire et complet d'ornithologie, ou, Histoire naturelle des oiseaux | volume=2 | language=French | location=Paris | publisher=Chez L'Auteur | pages=258–259 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/39476264 }} The specific epithet is from Latin ''naevius'' meaning "spotted" or "marked".{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=265 }} A [molecular phylogenetic](/source/molecular_phylogenetic) study published in 2018 found that the purple roller was most closely related to the [racket-tailed roller](/source/racket-tailed_roller) (''Coracias spatulatus''). {{Phylogeny/Coracias}} Two [subspecies](/source/subspecies) are recognised:{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen |name-list-style=amp | date=January 2021 | title=Rollers, ground rollers, kingfishers | work=IOC World Bird List Version 11.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/rollers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=22 April 2021 }} * Lilac-throated roller (''C. n. naevius'') – [Daudin](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Marie_Daudin), 1800: The common name for this subspecies is also used as an alternate name for the [lilac-breasted roller](/source/lilac-breasted_roller). Found from Senegal and Gambia to Somalia and northern Tanzania * ''C. n. mosambicus'' – [Dresser](/source/Henry_Eeles_Dresser), 1890: Originally described as a separate species. Found from Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to Namibia northern South Africa == Description == [[File:151 Purple roller in flight in Etosha National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg|alt=Purple roller in flight in Etosha National Park, Namibia|left|thumb|Purple roller in flight in [Etosha National Park](/source/Etosha_National_Park), Namibia]] [[File:Purple roller (Coracias naevius mosambicus).jpg|alt=Purple roller in Etosha National Park, Namibia|left|thumb|Purple roller in [Etosha National Park](/source/Etosha_National_Park), Namibia]] thumb|left|Purple roller, or rufous-crowned roller The purple roller is the largest of the rollers, growing to a length of {{convert|35|to|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}. Adults weigh from {{convert|145|to|200|g|oz|abbr=on}} with an average weight of {{convert|168|g|oz|abbr=on}}.{{cite book |title=CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses |edition=2nd |editor-first=John B. Jr. |editor-last=Dunning |publisher=CRC Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4200-6444-5}} From a distance it appears a dull brownish bird with a white stripe over the eye, a patch of white on the nape and a dark tail. Northern populations tend to have a rufus crown while southern populations have a more olive-green crown. The underparts are purplish-pink streaked with white. The wings are long and rounded while the tail is square-cut. The voice is a rather grating "ka" or "gaa", repeated rapidly and evenly. == Behaviour and ecology == Its preferred habitat is dry thornveld where it spends long periods perched at the top of thorn trees or poles, watching for food items such as insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards on the ground. It rocks to-and-fro about its longitudinal axis during display flights, calling raucously all the while; starting from above the treetops it plummets towards the ground in rolling flight. It is territorial, and during the breeding season will drive off other rollers, small hawks and crows.{{cite book|author1=Fry, C. Hilary|author2=Fry, Kathie |name-list-style=amp |title=Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U_XUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA287 |year=2010|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4081-3525-9 |pages=287–288}} This species seems to be an opportunist breeder, possibly linked to rains, as its breeding season varies from place to place. It nests in natural hollows in trees or uses old woodpecker holes, or in cliffs, riverbanks, pipes, or holes in masonry, usually laying three white eggs. The young are fed and incubated by both parents. == References == {{Reflist}} * ''Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa'', 6th edition (John Voelcker Fund, 1993) {{ISBN|0-620-17583-4}} == External links == {{Commons category}} * Purple roller – [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/449.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds] {{Taxonbar|from=Q628149}} purple roller Category:Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa Category:Coraciidae Category:Taxa named by François Marie Daudin Category:Coracias --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Purple roller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_roller) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_roller?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.