Blue-bellied Roller
Scientific Name
Geographic Range
Diet
About This Animal
Blue-bellied rollers are small, stocky birds named for their royal blue abdomens. Males and females look familiar, with a tan head and neck, dark and light blue feathers on their wings, and black eyes.
The birds are social, usually seen in pairs or trios with other small groups nearby, although they may live in clusters of up to 20 individuals. They’re named for their acrobatic abilities in the air as they hunt for food.
They use elaborate courtship displays to attract mates, including fast rolling, diving chases and loud vocalizing. As cavity nesters, blue-belled rollers build nests high off the ground and lay two to four eggs per clutch, which are then incubated for 22 to 24 days. Both parents help rear their chicks, which become independent by 40 days old.
Reportedly, blue-bellied rollers are common a variety of habitats, including forests, savannas, and wetlands. However, their population is decreasing due to deforestation.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
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Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
