European Roller, Coracias garrulus

Th e nominate race  is a Palearctic
migrant, occurring as a common visitor. It occurs mainly
as a passage migrant between the end of October and mid-
December, and again at the end of March and during early
April. Th ere is one January record from Akagera NP. It has
been recorded throughout the country, but more frequently
in the eastern savannas. The species is very abundant also in
the lower Rusizi plain in Burundi, what indicates a strong
passage along the Rift valley, including the Lake Kivu area.
It occurs in any open habitat, and is more liable to occur in
open grassland than the Lilac-breasted Roller C. caudatus. In
treeless habitats it often hunts from termite mounds. Many
birds occur solitarily, but during days of heavy passage loose
fl ocks of 10–15 birds have been watched. 

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