Arrives in northern Australia each summer from New Guinea; its broad, silvery underwings flash in flight.
Not listed
Indigenous: Rdewrdewh, Dhanibanban, A-Dewhrdew, Dirriwudirriwu, Diw'tiw, Dewhdew, Diwdiw, Deyawdeyawh, Dollarbird
At a glance
FamilyRollers
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatE. o. cyanocollis – Vieillot, 1819: Found from the Himalayas through China to south-eastern Siberia, Korea and Japan E. o. orientalis – (Linnaeus, 1766): Found from the southern Himalayas to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines E. o. laetior – Sharpe, 1890: Found in south-western India E. o. gigas – Stresemann, 1913: Found on southern Andaman Islands E. o. irisi – Deraniyagala, 1951: Found in Sri Lanka E. o. oberholseri – Junge, 1936: Found on Simeulue (off north-western Sumatra) Australian roller (E. o. pacificus) – (Latham, 1801): Originally described as a separate species in the genus Coracias.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from October to January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Lim Ying Hien 林勇贤
Range map
Range map
5056visible hotspots
134413visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
In flight has a characteristic white circle, or ‘dollar’, on each underwing. Juvenile lacks red bill. May resemble mynas in flight, but note longer wings, larger head, and more powerful, less frantic flight.
Behavior
Nests in cavities; typically tree hollows. Frequently perches on power-lines or in the tops of tall dead trees.
Gallery
Regional timing
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania