Coracias

"Galgulus" redirects here. This genus name was also invalidly given to a toad bug genus (now Gelastocoris) by Latreille around 1802, to the rockfowl (now Picathartes) by Wagler in 1827, and to the Brown-eared Bulbul (Microscelis amaurotis) by Kittlitz in 1832.

Coracias
Adult European Roller
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Coraciidae
Genus:	Coracias Linnaeus, 1756
Species
8, see text
Synonyms
Galgulus Brisson, 1760

Coracias is a genus of the rollers, an Old World family of near passerine birds related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups, blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but not the outer one.

These are insect eaters, usually catching their prey in the air. They often perch prominently whilst hunting, like giant shrikes.

The species in taxonomic order are:

• European Roller Coracias garrulus
• Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus
• Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
• Racket-tailed Roller Coracias spatulatus
• Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias noevius
• Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
• Purple-winged Roller Coracias temminckii
• Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster

References

• Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers by Fry, Fry and Harris, ISBN 0-7136-8028-8

External links

• Roller videos on the Internet Bird Collection