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Africa gives us big drama with lions and elephants… and then slips in gems like this to remind us to look at the smaller stars too.
The wonder of a lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) never grows old.
We spotted this individual on our first game drive of the season in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
Now I need to work on capturing one of these 8-colored birds in flight. There’s a reason this roller is known as “the flying rainbow.”
A Lilac-breasted roller perched on a branch, showcasing its vibrant lilac chest and turquoise wings in the African sunlight.
The Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is a living rainbow of the savannah. This stunning bird sports eight distinct colors: green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, dark blue, reddish-brown, and—of course—its namesake lilac.
On the National Geographic Wildlife Guide, it's often noted that these birds are as fierce as they are beautiful, frequently diving from high perches to snatch up insects and even small lizards.
In my experience, it is the only "little bird" that consistently provokes safarists to "oooh and aaah" with the same intensity they save for a cheetah or a lion! Whether it’s perched stoically on a thorn bush or showing off its brilliant blue wings in flight, it is a photographer’s dream.
Compare this image with our previous post, Lilac-breasted Roller: The Most Beautiful Bird in East Africa?
Are you ready to capture the vibrant colors of the African bush through your own lens? We are returning to the best birding habitats in East Africa next year.
2026 Safari Dates: Join our Tanzania Safari Expedition to see birds and more.
Booking Info: Limited spots remain for our upcoming season. Check our list of destinations and dates for future curated travel here.
This Lilac-breasted roller has attitude!
"Shaddup with the ‘pretty bird' already!"
The Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) has attitude. You can hear it in its harsh, "Rak, rak, rak!" vocalization.
I think the roller is among the most colorful creatures of the Serengeti. Don't you agree?
To learn more about this bird with attitude, see this post: Lilac-breasted Roller: The Most Beautiful Bird in East Africa?
