Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus Linnaeus, 1766

Coraciidae — Rollers

Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudatus, breeds in eastern, south-eastern and south-central Africa and belongs to the roller family, Coraciidae. It is found across open woodland and savanna, and is largely missing from places without trees. It often sits alone or in pairs on the tops of trees, poles or other raised perches, watching for insects, amphibians and small birds on the ground. The sexes look alike, while young birds do not yet have the long tail streamers shown by adults. It was described by Linnaeus in 1766.

Order
Coraciiformes
Family
Coraciidae — Rollers
Breeding range
Africa: e, se, sc
Lilac-breasted Roller
© Maximilian Staub · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

16 tours in Kenya 9, Tanzania 3, Botswana 2, Zambia 1, Uganda 1

10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
10 Days Kenya Birding and Wildlife: Mara, Victoria and Kakamega
Kenya / Nairobi Custom tour 10 days

Link Nairobi and the Masai Mara with papyrus birding on Lake Victoria, two days in Kakamega Forest and Lake Nakuru’s lakeshore, woodland a...

Small and Flexible Kafue River Birding Stay at Pinnon Safari Lodge
Small and Flexible Kafue River Birding Stay at Pinnon Safari Lodge
Zambia / Kafue National Park Private tour 1 day

A flexible birding stay beside the Kafue River, with lodge-ground observation and optional guided boat, vehicle and dry-season walking activ...

From USD 185
13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
13-Day Wings Over the Wild Birding and Photography Safari
Botswana / Maun 13 days

A private 13-day birding and wildlife photography journey from Maun to Kasane through Moremi, Khwai, Savuti and the Chobe Riverfront, with m...

From USD 7,200
Private 8-Day Okavango Delta Birding and Photography Safari
Private 8-Day Okavango Delta Birding and Photography Safari
Botswana / Maun Group tour 8 days

Spend eight private safari days reading the birds and wildlife of Moremi and Khwai through game drives, water activities, night observation ...

From USD 4,550
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
Uganda / Entebbe Group tour 15 days

A 15-day Uganda birding circuit from Entebbe through Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki for Sh...

From USD 4,685
14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
14-Day Eastern Arc and Northern Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 14 days

A 14-day private Tanzania birding itinerary linking Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, the Usambara Mountains, Amani Nature Reserve a...

20 Days Kenya Birding Tour
20 Days Kenya Birding Tour
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 20 days

A 20-day comprehensive Kenya birding circuit from Nairobi and Maasai Mara through Rift Valley lakes, western forest, northern reserves, Tsav...

Tana River Primate Reserve
Tana River Primate Reserve
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private birding day in the lower Tana River forests, exploring riparian woodland and wetlands in habitat shared by two endemic primates....

Mount Elgon National Park
Mount Elgon National Park
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A relaxed private walking day in Mount Elgon National Park, exploring montane forest, bamboo and highland trails from the Chorlim Gate area....

Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private Lake Naivasha birding day by boat and on foot, exploring open water, papyrus shoreline and yellow-barked acacia woodland....

Kongelai Escarpment
Kongelai Escarpment
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private birding day on Kongelai, or Kanyarkwat, Escarpment near Kapenguria, exploring forest remnants, farmland and Kenya’s western circ...

Kinangop Plateau
Kinangop Plateau
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private highland-grassland birding day on the Kinangop Plateau, focused on Sharpe’s Longclaw between the Aberdare Mountains and Rift Val...

Busia Grasslands
Busia Grasslands
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private western Kenya birding day across the Busia grassland network, centered on Mungatsi for Blue Swallow, wet-grassland and riverine-sc...

Aberdare National Park
Aberdare National Park
Kenya / Nairobi Group tour 1 day

A private birding day across the Aberdare Range’s montane forest and high moorland, combining highland birds, waterfalls and possible larg...

10-Day Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
10-Day Tanzania Birding Safari with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 10 days

A high-density 10-day birding program through the Arusha foothills, Maasai Steppe, Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the central Serengeti, combinin...

15-Day Luxury Birding Safari in Tanzania with Wings Explorers Tours
15-Day Luxury Birding Safari in Tanzania with Wings Explorers Tours
Tanzania / Arusha Private tour 15 days

A 15-day luxury Tanzania birding safari from Arusha to Arusha National Park, Mkomazi, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti....

From USD 20,420