Kraska ciekawostki — Tukan Media

European roller

This incredibly colorful bird stands out with its blue plumage in various shades and a brown back. It has black wings and a beak. European rollers are endangered Polish birds – they are listed as a critically endangered species, with an estimated population of only 16 breeding pairs (2020 data). They settle on the edges of old forests and in wooded areas adjacent to fields and meadows. They choose tree hollows as their nesting sites, lining them with thin branches, grass, and leaves. They lay about 5 shiny, white eggs in them – incubating them for 20 days, and the young birds stay in the nest for 4 weeks after hatching.

Where in Poland does the European roller occur?

European rollers are migratory birds – in Poland, they appear around the end of April and May, and depart around August and September. Where does the European roller live? You can mainly find it in the eastern regions of our country, especially:

on the Kurpie Plain,
in northern Masovia,
in Podkarpacie region.

The European Roller also occurs in Asia and Africa – that's where it spends the winter.

This colorful bird, the European Roller, is easily noticeable among other winged inhabitants of our country, and its impressive plumage is particularly enchanting in flight, when you can admire the diverse shades of its feathers.

European Roller - interesting facts and description of its diet

The European Roller mainly feeds on insects, including beetles, snails, spiders, winged insects, and earthworms. They also hunt amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. The severe threat of extinction in Poland is due to the elimination of old hollow trees and field groves, as well as the use of chemicals in agriculture. In Oman, the European Roller is considered a delicacy and is hunted for culinary purposes. In the past, around the late 1970s, the population of European Rollers in Poland was approximately 1000 pairs. The current population, which is only a few dozen, highlights how drastically the population of this species has decreased.

Listen to the voice

Gadgets with the illustration of the European Roller

The captivating, almost exotic coloring of the European Roller deserves to be immortalized and can become a stunning decoration for your interiors. I create illustrations featuring the European Roller, as well as other bird-related gadgets – check out my offer!