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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Blue-bellied Roller	European Roller
Scientific Name	Coracias cyanogaster	Coracias garrulus
Order	Coraciiformes	Coraciiformes
Family	Coraciidae	Coraciidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	31.0 cm (12.2 in)
Wingspan	34.7 cm (13.7 in)	66.0 cm (26.0 in)
Weight	139.66666666666666 g (4.93 oz)	130.0 g (4.59 oz)
Diet	--	Large insects, especially beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets. Also takes small reptiles, frogs, and scorpions. Hunts …
Clutch Size	4	3-6
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Blue-bellied Roller —

European Roller 31.0 cm

Wingspan

Blue-bellied Roller 34.7 cm

European Roller 66.0 cm

Weight

Blue-bellied Roller 139.66666666666666 g

European Roller 130.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌲 Forest

Blue-bellied Roller only

🌿 Wetland

European Roller only

None

European Roller

Warm, dry, open country with scattered trees and nest holes. Breeds in tree cavities, earth banks, and nest boxes.

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Song & Call Comparison

Blue-bellied Roller

European Roller

Song

A harsh, grating 'rack-rack' or 'quarrk' in flight. Gives a variety of sharp nasal calls at the nest. Not melodic; primary vocalizations are alarm and contact calls.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Blue-bellied Roller

European Roller

Southern and eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North Africa. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Blue-bellied Roller

Least Concern

European Roller

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How to Tell Them Apart

Blue-bellied Roller

European Roller

Plumage

Turquoise-blue head, breast, and tail. Chestnut-brown back. Vivid ultramarine blue and black wing patches visible in flight.

Bill

Short, stout, dark hooked bill

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About These Birds

Blue-bellied Roller

European Roller

The European roller gets its name from the spectacular rolling and tumbling aerial displays performed by males during courtship. It is the only roller species in Europe and one of the continent's most colorful birds. Declining across much of its western range due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss.

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Related Comparisons

Belted Kingfisher vs European Roller

look-alike

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More Birds to Explore

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Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus Azure Dollarbird Eurystomus azureus Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus All Coraciidae birds →

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