Kenya's National Bird

Did you know Kenya has a National Bird? Not the rooster.

It is this beautifully coloured bird. Lilac Breasted Roller.

The bird has about eight (8) colours. Boy child, the bird has even lilac and turquoise colours. 

This strong and swift bird has a robust body and a proportionately large, green head with a heavy black beak. It has a white chin and a white or yellow band above the eyes and beak. Its breast is a dark lilac that grows lighter towards the throat.

The abdomen and underside of the wings are turquoise, and the wings’ underside is also trimmed with dark blue. The upper part of the wings is reddish brown. Their forked tail, which is also turquoise, ends in black streamers.

These wide arrays of colours are supposed to represent the diversity in Kenya in terms of cultures, sceneries, attractions and the country’s uniqueness. The bird is also found in most regions of the country.

Unlike most other birds where the male is the most attractive, for Lilac Breasted Roller, both female and males are equally dazzling. You cannot tell the difference by the looks. They are not dimorphic. 

The bird owes it common name (roller) to its mating display, which consists of a lot of dives and swoops accompanied by loud and harsh cries. During a mating flight, a lilac-breasted roller will fly upwards for about ten meters (33 feet) and then swoop down with wings closed.

In another aerial stunt, the lilac-breasted roller will roll from side to side while flying very fast. If the aerial courtship is successful, the two birds will mate in the air.

Lilac-breasted rollers are believed to be monogamous and mate for life. 

This bird is known to be a fearless creature. They do not fear humans in the same way many other birds do. You can get quite close to a lilac-breasted roller without it flying off. A great thing when taking a picture. However, they are very quick and aggressive to defend their nests even against human beings. They also guard their favorite hunting grounds and will chase off intruders.

They are very ‘unique hunters’.  When they spot a prey, they will swoop down and batter the target with their wings. After beating their prey into submission, they will swallow it whole.

This bird is clever and bold enough to take advantage of brush fires. As the small animals and insects flee the flames, the lilac-breasted roller will swoop down on them. It is one of the few birds known to hunt near the edge of a fire.

The lilac breasted rollers are highly territorial. 

The species makes their nests in tree holes, as well as in termite mounds. They may also make use of unoccupied or abandoned woodpecker or kingfisher’s nest holes. Both males and females incubate the 2 – 4 eggs which are laid.

The lilac-breasted roller prefers to live in savannas and open woodlands where it has access to trees for perching and nesting. It thus avoids treeless areas. Although it does not fear humans, the lilac-breasted roller avoids environments that have been affected by humans, like cities and farms.

In many African cultures, the lilac-breasted roller symbolizes a deep connection between love and marriage.

The bird’s Swahili name is ‘Kambu’ or ‘Chole’

Hopefully next you are touring you will be able to see and identify the bird for the first time thus becoming your lifer. Hopefully too you won’t go twitching (travel far) to find the lilac breasted roller.