Scientific name: Coracias naevia
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Coraciidae

Formerly called: Purple Roller

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The Rufous-crowned Roller is found over sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as Namibia and the Transvaal. Compared with other rollers its colours are rather dull and its voice rather harsh and grating. Its preferred habitat is dry thornveld where it spends long periods perched at the top of thorn trees or poles, watching for food items such as insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards on the ground. It rocks to and fro about its longitudinal axis during display flights, calling raucously all the while.