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Leptosomatidae:
The Cuckoo-roller, Leptosomus discolor, is the only bird in the family Leptosomatidae, which is usually considered to be within the order Coraciiformes, which also includes the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. However, there is morphological evidence for a placement within or near to Falconiformes. It was formerly known by the name coural. This is a medium-sized species of forests in Madagascar and the Comoros Islands. It eats small prey such as insects. Unlike the true rollers and ground rollers, where the sexes have identical appearance, the male and female Cuckoo Roller have distinctive plumages. Males are mostly velvety grey. The back, tail, and wings are dark shiny green. They have a black eyestripe. Females and young birds are mostly brown marked with darker streaks. Like most members of the order, cuckoo rollers nest in tunnels in banks, laying about white eggs. |
