Cuckoo Roller - Behaviour and Ecology

Behaviour and Ecology

The diet of the Cuckoo Roller is not well known, but a 1931 expedition found that chameleons and insects, particularly locusts and caterpillars are important food items. Stomach have often been found lined with the hairs of caterpillars, and other prey taken include grasshoppers, cicadas, stick insects and geckos. The principal foraging technique is to perch motionless watching for prey, then to make a quick sally towards the prey when observed. They will also forage from the air. Prey is caught in the large bill and dispatched by beating it against a branch.

Very few studies have investigated the breeding biology of the Cuckoo Roller. It has been described in the past as a polygamous breeder, but there is no evidence for this. The nest is located in tall trees, 4–6 m off the ground, in natural cavities. No lining is placed inside the cavity, the white eggs are laid directly on the bottom. The usual clutch size is around four eggs. Incubation is performed by the female only, with the male feeding her while she is in the nest. The incubation period is about 20 days, after which fluffy chicks are born. Chicks remain in the nest for 30 days before fledging.