154
PLATE 70: ROLLERS, HOOPOE AND WRYNECK
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis RB
L: 30. Stocky and multicoloured; told at all ages in flight by large, pale turquoise-blue primary
patch (above and below) and pale turquoise-blue rectangles in sides of tail base (seen when
tail is spread). Wing-tip clearly blunter than in European Roller. When perched, lightly white-
streaked neck, throat and breast are vinous-cinnamon (turquoise-blue in European Roller) and
cap dark turquoise-green; mantle earth-brown (pale chestnut in European). Aerobatic, In pursuit
of flying insects and in sky-diving display. Voice Similar to European Roller, but with more barking
rak; agitated sneezed chew-chew-chew in display or towards intruder in territory. Habitat Open
cultivated country with scattered trees, plantations, parks, gardens; usually below 1,000m. Nests
in hole in tree or wall. Note Mainly resident, autumn dispersal hatched, but rare; vagrant Qatar,
Yemen.Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus V
L: 41. Length includes elongated outer tail feathers. Superficially like European and Indian Rollers
but with long tail streamers; distinguished by rich lilac throat and sides of face in the Somali race
lorti (Lilac-throated Roller), the race most likely to occur. Upperparts earth-brown, similar to Indian
Roller, but wing pattern more similar to European Roller. Note whitish forehead and supercilium.
In juvenile and moulting adult, lilac throat is duller and browner. Behaviour as other rollers. Voice
Harsh loud krack-krack; also chattering kark. In flight, a sharp rasping kick-kick-kick. Habitat Plains
with trees. Note Vagrant Oman, Yemen.European Roller Coracias garrulus PM
L: 30. Stocky; turquoise-blue body and most wing-coverts contrasting with blackish flight
feathers, chestnut back and deep blue leading forewing above. Colours often faded in autumn
(and paler-hued in subspecies semenowi, breeding in Iran and Iraq). Juvenile duller and browner
with lightly streaked neck and breast. Often sits on prominent perch (wires, poles, dead branches)
taking prey on ground. In display flight, ‘tumbles’ from side to side in downward dive (not unlike
Northern Lapwing). Voice Sonorous, hoarse rack-rack (recalling Eurasian Magpie); also in display or
when agitated a loud piercing keer-keer-keer and repeated dry gravelly grating note. Habitat Open
country with large trees, rarely to 2,000m. Note Passage hatched; formerly bred UAE.Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops WV, PM, rb
L: 28. Distinctive pinkish-buff with bold black-and-white bars on wings and tail, long black-tipped
crest, usually depressed (raised on landing), long decurved bill; broad rounded wings in flight
and flappy flight action. Spends much time on the ground. Voice Male’s song distinctive, repeated
hollow poo-poo-poo; also a dry terrr when agitated and strange, thin squeaking and hissing notes
when courting. Habitat Woodland, olive and palm groves, parks, gardens, oases; open and wooded
areas in winter. Nests in hole in tree or ruin. Note Passage and winter hatched.Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla PM, wv
L: 16. Inconspicuous slim, atypical, brown woodpecker with finely vermiculated cryptic plumage.
Flight direct, shallowly undulating, reminiscent of large, long-tailed warbler or female Red-backed
Shrike. Distinctive features are long tail, brown scaling on off-white underparts, dark eye-stripe,
black central crown streak onto mantle, buff-mottled wings and finely barred yellowish throat.
Often forages on ground. Voice Song a loud, monotonous, plaintive vee-vee-vee-vee recalling
small, distant falcon. Habitat Open woodland, orchards, parks; nests in hole in tree. Any cover on
migration. Note May breed NW Iran/NE Iraq; passage hatched, some winter in Arabia.