ABSTRACT
The Abyssinian Roller forms part of a species-group with the Eurasian and Lilac-breasted Rollers. While conspicuous, it is awarded D2 due to the potential for confusion, with the far commoner Palearctic species.10 species of tropical and temperate areas, absent from only Nearctic and Neotropical Regions. Eight occur in the Afrotropical Region. Five are found in Kenya, where four breed and the other is a non-breeding migrant from the Palearctic. The Abyssinian Roller is principally a bird of Turkana and areas further NW, where it is at the SE limit of its main, N tropics range. Wanderers S of Turkana are normally Nov-Jan, and a mid June-Aug influx of solitary birds to the N edges of highlands during 1984 is unique, and presumably due to very dry weather further N. The nominate Lilac-breasted Roller is found SW and W of Marsabit 27D, Chanler's Falls 52A, and the Tana R 65B-91A, while the Lilac-throated Roller C.c. lorti occurs further NE and E.
