1. European roller – Coracias garrulus
European roller is a large bird with a body length of 35-40 cm, a wingspan of 75-80 cm, and a weight of 150-200 g. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is black, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. European roller has a long, strong beak with which it can split the shells of insects.
European roller is common in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
European roller is a sedentary bird. It lives in forests, parks, gardens and other places with open areas. European roller nests on trees, in hollows or on branches. There are 4-6 eggs in a European roller's clutch. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 28-30 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
Eropean roller feeds on insects, small rodents, birds and other invertebrates.
Little owl is a fairly common species, but in some regions its number is decreasing. The reasons for this are the destruction of habitats, poaching and the death of chicks from domestic animals.
In Ukraine, european roller is listed in the Red Book as "Vulnerable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko