Cuckoo Roller, Ankarana, Madagascar

Love this bird with its enormous head and mixture of patterns.

comments (3)

englishindiangirl

Lion

Could this be a scaly ground roller? geobiastes squamigerus? Posted 9 years ago

englishindiangirl

Lion

Whoops! Thought it might be a scale ground roller but it's a cuckoo roller. At least I recognised it as a roller! Posted 9 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  No worries, indeed they look a bit different:
  
  Posted 9 years ago

The Cuckoo Roller

The Cuckoo Roller or Courol is the only bird in the family Leptosomatidae, which is usually considered to be within the order Coraciiformes, which also includes the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. However, the position of this family is not very clear. Morphological evidence may suggest a placement within or near to Falconiformes. In the rather comprehensive DNA study by Hackett ''et al.'' this is one of only two birds – besides the Hoatzin – of which the position is not clear, although.. more

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Similar species: Cuckoo Rollers

Species identified by Ferdy Christant