Fork rack

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Fork rack
Fork hackle (Coracias caudatus)

Fork hackle ( Coracias caudatus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Rockers (Coraciiformes)
Family : Racken (Coraciidae)
Genre : Coracias
Type : Fork rack
Scientific name
Coracias caudatus
Linnaeus , 1766

The Gabelracke or Gabelrake ( Coracias caudatus ), even Lilac-breasted Roller or tailed Racke called, is one in southern and eastern Africa occurring bird art from the order of Coraciiformes (Coraciiformes).

features

Gabelracke in flight, Okavango Delta

The fork rack becomes 35-45 cm tall. Their plumage is extremely brightly colored. The chest is purple, the belly light blue. The head and neck are green, with a white stripe around the upper beak and above the eyes. The face is reddish, the wings more brownish. The underside of the wings is bright blue.

Occurrence

The fork rack can be found in East Africa from Ethiopia via Somalia , Kenya to northern South Africa , in the west from the Atlantic coast of Angola and Namibia inland.

Possible confusion

There is a great resemblance to the Senegal rack including the striking tail feathers; however, their throat is pale blue and not purple. The habitats of the two species overlap in a corridor from northern Ethiopia to eastern central Ethiopia and from southwestern Ethiopia to Lake Turkana . The spatula can be easily distinguished by its spatula-shaped tail feathers and its blue throat and chest.

habitat

Fork rack in the Masai Mara, Kenya
Fork hackle ( Coracias caudatus caudatus , Engl.Lilac breasted roller )

The Gabelracke lives in tree savannahs, open bushland and cultivated land.

Subspecies

There are two known subspecies :

  • C. c. caudata - Central Kenya to the Atlantic coast and northern South Africa . Olive green from the crown to the coat. Lilac throat and chest. The throat shows strong, the breasts light white streaks
  • C. c. lorti - Eastern and Northern Kenya to the Red Sea coast in Ethiopia and Somalia . Green-blue from the crown to the coat. Throat lilac-colored, heavily streaked with white. Azure chest. Some specimens have small lilac-colored spots between the chest and stomach.

behavior

Foraging

The fork hunts insects , caterpillars , scorpions and spiders . A raised point such as a fork of a branch or a fence post serves as a raised hide.

Breeding behavior

The Gabelracke is a cave breeder .

Observation recommendation

In the area of ​​distribution, the Gabelracke can often be seen at elevated points. It is easy to observe if you stalk carefully.

literature

  • CH Fry, K. Fry, A. Harris: Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers. Christopher Helm, London 1992, ISBN 0-7136-8028-8 , p. 294ff (English).

Web links

Commons : Gabelracke ( Coracias caudatus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files