Coracias garrulus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CORACIIFORMES	CORACIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Coracias garrulus

Species Authority:

Linnaeus, 1758

Common Name/s:

English	–	European Roller, Roller
French	–	Rollier d'Europe

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Mischenko, A., Racinskis, E., Kalamees, A., Tron, F., Petkov, N., Raudonikis, L., Tiwara, J.

Justification:
This species has apparently undergone moderately rapid declines across its global range and it is consequently considered Near Threatened. Declines have been most pronounced in northern populations, and if similar declines are observed elsewhere in the species's range it may warrant uplisting to Vulnerable.

History:

2005	–	Near Threatened
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Coracias garrulus occurs as two subspecies: the nominate breeds from Morocco, south-west and south-central Europe and Asia Minor east through north-west Iran to south-west Siberia (Russia); and semenowi, which breeds in Iraq and Iran (except north-west) east to Kashmir and north to Turkmenistan, south Kazakhstan and north-west China (west Sinkiang). The species overwinters in two distinct regions of Africa, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west to Congo and south to South Africa¹. It has a large global population, including an estimated 100,000-220,000 individuals in Europe (50-74% of the global breeding range)². However, following a moderate decline during 1970-1990³, the species has continued to decline by up to 25% across Europe during 1990-2000 (including in key populations in Turkey and European Russia)². Overall European declines exceeded 30% in three generations (15 years). Populations in northern Europe have undergone severe declines (Estonia: 50-100 pairs in 1998 to no known breeding pairs in 2004⁴, Latvia: several thousand to under 30 pairs in 2004⁵, Lithuania: 1,000-2,000 pairs in 1970s to 20 pairs in 2004⁶), and in Russia it has now disappeared from the northern part of its range⁷. However, there is no evidence of any declines in Central Asia. Should these populations be shown to be declining, the species may warrant uplisting further to Vulnerable.
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Belarus; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Botswana; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Estonia; Ethiopia; France; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Ghana; Gibraltar; Greece; Guinea-Bissau; Hungary; India; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lebanon; Lesotho; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malawi; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Moldova; Montenegro; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Somalia; South Africa; Spain; Sudan; Swaziland; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Western Sahara; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe Vagrant: Belgium; Cape Verde; Comoros; Denmark; Faroe Islands; Finland; Iceland; Ireland; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Sao Tomé and Principe; Seychelles; Switzerland; United Kingdom Present - origin uncertain: San Marino
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 53000-110000 breeding pairs, equating to 159000-330000 individuals (BirdLife International 2004). Europe forms 50-74% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population si
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The species prefers lowland open countryside with patches of oak Quercus forest, mature pine Pinus woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys, and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains¹. In Europe, the species mainly breeds in abandoned Green Woodpecker Picus viridis cavities in white poplar Populus alba, especially in riparian forests, less often in Salix spp., or infrequently in natural cavities of planes Platanus orientalis, walls or sand-banks^8,11. They mostly forage in agricultural habitats, especially meadows (May and August) and in cereals in June-July. Fallow land is always favoured. Vineyards can be attractive if the soil keeps some vegetation cover^8,12. Hedgerows (as well as fences and powerlines) are essential perches while looking for prey^8,12.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The species prefers lowland open countryside with patches of oak Quercus forest, mature pine Pinus woodland with heathery clearings, orchards, mixed farmland, river valleys, and plains with scattered thorny or leafy trees. It winters primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains¹. In Europe, the species mainly breeds in abandoned Green Woodpecker Picus viridis cavities in white poplar Populus alba, especially in riparian forests, less often in Salix spp., or infrequently in natural cavities of planes Platanus orientalis, walls or sand-banks^8,11. They mostly forage in agricultural habitats, especially meadows (May and August) and in cereals in June-July. Fallow land is always favoured. Vineyards can be attractive if the soil keeps some vegetation cover^8,12. Hedgerows (as well as fences and powerlines) are essential perches while looking for prey^8,12.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring¹, and Gujarat, India. Use of pesticides and conversion to monoculture reduces food availability⁵. It is sensitive to loss of hedgerows and riparian forest in Europe which provide essential habitats for perching and nesting.

Major Threat(s):

Threats include persecution on migration in some Mediterranean countries and hundreds, perhaps thousands, are shot for food in Oman every spring¹, and Gujarat, India. Use of pesticides and conversion to monoculture reduces food availability⁵. It is sensitive to loss of hedgerows and riparian forest in Europe which provide essential habitats for perching and nesting.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The species is recorded in a number of national monitoring schemes within its range and has been the focus of targeted study. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue monitoring population trends. Determine Turkish, Middle Eastern and Central Asian trends and review its conservation status based on the findings. Tackle specific threats such as hunting. Address threats in Europe relating to the Common Agricultural Policy and integrate appropriate measures into agri-environment schemes.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The species is recorded in a number of national monitoring schemes within its range and has been the focus of targeted study.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue monitoring population trends. Determine Turkish, Middle Eastern and Central Asian trends and review its conservation status based on the findings. Tackle specific threats such as hunting. Address threats in Europe relating to the Common Agricultural Policy and integrate appropriate measures into agri-environment schemes.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Coracias garrulus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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