InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 20, July 2008

Adding Colour to the Cyprus Summer

By Jane Stylianou.

Except for the Troodos mountain range and other forested regions, Cyprus is beginning to look very dry and bare of anything but the hardiest of drought-resistant vegetation. The landscape of Cyprus has taken on a dusty brown appearance with the occasional dark green added for variety. It is therefore fortunate that several of the birds that visit the island to breed in the summer are so brightly coloured and offer a striking contrast to the surrounding countryside.

One particularly striking breeding visitor is the European Roller (Coracius garrulus). This heavily built bird may at first be mistaken for a small crow until you become aware of its beautiful colouring. Most notable are its bright light blue – almost turquoise in some lights – head, lower body and tail. Its back is chestnut while its wings are also light blue with contrasting dark flight feathers. Rollers can often be spotted in open areas that are covered with sparse vegetation and will use electric wires and poles as perches. They take their name from the rolling and twisting display flight that is performed by the males.

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