Rufous Crowned Roller.

The largest Roller found in The Gambia, growing up to sixteen inches. These birds are the least encountered roller for me personally and probably for anyone else. Unless observed out in the open on a a post or wire their colouration offers them, unlike other rollers, a degree of camouflage. However, on closer inspection they are a rather beautiful bird.
Their preferred habitat is dry open country where they spend long periods perched at the top of thorn trees watching for food items such as insects, spiders, scorpions and small lizards on the ground.



These bird are quite unobtrusive because of the above mentioned behaviour and plumage and it is always nice to come across one.