AnimalsThe Indian roller looks plain brown when perched, then shows brilliant blue wings in flight. It is named for the rolling dives of its display flight. Known as neelkanth in Hindi, it is the state bird of several Indian states.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Coracias benghalensis
- Group
- Birds
- Diet
- Carnivore (eats other animals)
- Lives in
- South and West Asia
- Habitat
- Open country, farmland and roadsides
- A young one is called
- chick
- A group is called
- no special name
- Conservation status
- Near Threatened
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Coraciidae
- Genus Coracias
- Species Coracias benghalensis
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The Indian roller is listed as Near Threatened. The species is not yet classed as threatened, but it is close and may become so soon.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.