Birds
European Roller
Coracias garrulus · Dumbrăveancă
A stunning turquoise and chestnut bird of warm open country, hunting from wires and dead trees.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Summer visitor
- Habitat
- Meadow
- Activity
- Daytime
- Diet
- Large insects, also small lizards and rodents.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Moderate
Identification
Turquoise head and underparts, chestnut back and bright blue wings with dark flight feathers.
Habitat
Open, warm farmland and grasslands with old trees, poles and banks.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Daytime
Diet
Large insects, also small lizards and rodents.
Behaviour
Hunts by dropping from a perch. Named for its rolling display flight.
Seasonality in Romania
SOR records arrival in late April or early May and departure in August.
- JanUnknown
- FebUnknown
- MarUnknown
- AprPresentMigration*
- MayPresentBreeding*
- JunPresentBreeding*
- JulPresentBreeding*
- AugPresentBreeding*
- SepPresentMigration*
- OctUnknown
- NovUnknown
- DecUnknown
Source-verified months inform the seasonal filters. Local timing can vary. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
Breeding
Nests in tree holes, banks or nest boxes.
How to find it
Wires and isolated trees in open lowland country in summer.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Ethics
- Never wait at nest holes or boxes.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.