European Roller Coracias garrulus

The beautiful European Roller, with turquoise plumage splashed with lilac, is native to southern Europe, north Africa, Middle East and Central Asia, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. Accomplished flyers, the Roller group of birds are named after the aerial rolls and swoops they make in courtship.

Male and female have similar plumage. The flight photos in the above row are thanks to Alexandra Makhnina.

Rollers nest communally in holes excavated in banks and cliffs, often alongside Bee-eaters or Sand Martins.