Birdwatch: The Indian Roller, a bird known for its acrobatic skills

The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) belongs to the bird family of Coraciidae and is a very common resident bird in the Inter-State Chandigarh Region (ISCR).

Overall 33cm in length, the Indian Roller inhabits fields and lightly wooded areas. The male and female are alike. The identification marks are a turquoise blue cap contrasting with the rest of the head and throat and a rufous-brown breast.

 The Indian roller occurs widely from West Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Often found perched on roadside trees and wires, it is common in open grassland and scrub forest habitats, and has adapted well to human-modified landscapes. It mainly feeds on insects, especially beetles. The species is best known for the aerobatic displays of males during the breeding season. Adult males and females form pair bonds and raise the young together. The female lays 3–5 eggs in a cavity or crevice, which is lined with a thin mat of straw or feathers. The roller is the state bird of three Indian states. It is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List.

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