Lilac-breasted Roller

[GoddessOfGuinness]

It sounds like something you'd paint walls with, doesn't it? But what a beautiful bird...

[gemdem]

1. Very pretty...

Where do they live?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. From a website:

The species ranges more or less continuously throughout eastern and southern Africa from the Red Sea coasts of Ethiopia and northwest Somalia to the Angola coast and northern South Africa. Lilac Breasted Rollers inhabit acacia country with well spaced trees, rolling bushy game lands, riverside areas and cultivated land, but they do not associate with human habitation.

http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_lilac_breasted_roller.html

[KT2000]

2. Oh my - beautiful is right!

Thanks for posting this.
The closest any locals come to this is the Red Wing Blackbird.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Do you get Blue Jays?

They're pretty scrappy birds...not particularly pleasant. But they're truly striking. :hi:
I like Red Wings, too! :D

[gemdem]

5. Blue jays, cardinals, and chickadees around here...

Although sparrows and starlings mostly. Oh yeah, Canada geese, too -- with all of their "gift packages" on the walks and lawns.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I saw a gardening show once...

...which suggested that people keep geese or ducks as pets, because their droppings made for a lovely lawn.

[KT2000]

11. Oh YES !!!

I guess I did not think of them because I put up with them more than admire them:
Two couples who spend the year here - I have three filbert trees. Finally let them have them as they had decided not to share. They are pretty though.

Red Wings have homesteaded my laurel hedge. They actually slam into my back when I try to prune it!

All in all - the birds have made yard care much easier - leave it to the birds!

I also have a mourning dove couple who have been around for years. Their colors are not striking but really elegant. Their call just melts my heart.

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. We had a pair of doves who roosted

on our window-unit air conditioner one year. It was pretty neat... :hi:

[crim son]

6. He is amazing.

All pastels. I've never seen anything like it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. There is a pair of them at the National Zoo...

I love their bird house! :D

[crim son]

9. I never thought of myself as a bird person but the older I get

the more I love them. My favorite bird is my favorite color: the cardinal. When I see one I consider it to be good luck.

I've never been to the National Zoo. Some day I will be sure to make the trip.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I love cardinals...

They love our feeders. It works out well for all of us!

[XemaSab]

13. I was about to get on the next plane

I thought there was one in the US. :(

I would love to go to Africa and see one. The kingfishers, bee-eaters, and rollers are all stonkers.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. You can find them in zoos here...

Apparently they avoid human contact; so you'd need to visit a pretty remote place to see them. I'd love to find one in the wild too!

[RevolutionaryActs]

14. Wow, gorgeous.

:o

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. It's a miracle they weren't all killed for their feathers...

They must live in remarkably remote places.

[ornotna]

16. Rollers are neat birds

When we lived in Saudi Arabia we used to see Abyssinian Rollers.




They would fly up and over on to their backs doing loops. I think that's where the name Roller comes from.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. Interesting...They're quite similar.

Thanks for the info and the pic. I'd love to see one looping around! :hi:

[Aristus]

17. Looks like a dollop of sherbet with feathers.

B-)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Ha!

It does!