Indian Roller

Indian Roller, in its typical location - electric wires

The state bird of Karnataka. A bird with arguably flashiest of plumages, the Rollers are among the cherished birds of our region.

Their bright blue wings are the most attractive feature - at least for me. Their chest and back tend to be chestnut in color. A flying roller can be a sight to remember - the deep-blue wings make them a very attractive bird :)

Slightly larger than the white-breasted Kingfishers, these are closer to pigeons in size. Generally they feed on insects.


Actually, I have not seen many Indian Rollers near Shimoga. But I see them almost every time I drive to the drier parts of the state, especially the agricultural lands near the capita, Bangalore, and Hassan districts.

Scientific name for these birds is Coracias benghalensis.