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Broad Billed Roller
 Broad – Billed Roller.
A compact dark cinnamon and purple coloured roller that is fairly common intra – African summer migrant. They are found in the Limpopo river basin , Eastern lowveld of South Africa and far north eastern KZN from September till April .
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They like fringe forests in major river valleys, denser bushveld and open woodland where they often perch conspicuously and breed in dead trees.Â
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These Rollers are solitary or in pairs when breeding, sometimes in flocks of 30 birds in migration. Perching on top of trees they fly out to catch flying insects on the wing and frequently hunt moths and flying ants at dusk. Also feed on small rodents and young birds . Â
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They look like a large bat in flight with a see-sawing display . The flight call is a rattling ” g – r – r- r- r- g ” otherwise when perched a harsh scream ” garrr ” and they have a cackle too ” kek – kek – kek ” .Â
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Breeding takes place from September to December . The nest is a natural hole in a tree up to 12m above ground. Usually 3 white eggs are laid , the incubation and nestling periods are unrecorded.Â
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The Afrikaans name is Geelbektroupant .Â
