The Roller Coaster

“Why didn’t you spot the Tiha today, dear?” That’s what my mother used to remind me on the New Year eves, when I was a little child like you. The Indian Roller bird, or the Tiha in Odia, is a very good omen. Believed to be a harbinger of happiness, sighting it is considered auspicious, especially at the beginning of any major life event. In fact, such is the faith in its sanctity that its feathers are preserved as lucky charms. Do you know Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka have also declared it as their state bird?

Formerly known as ‘Blue Jay,’ the Indian Roller is a member of the roller family. Widespread in the Indian Subcontinent and, though non-migratory, it moves seasonally. When perched, it appears significantly dull brown. But when in flight, its brilliant colouration—predominantly the blue shades—flare up, revealing its enchanting beauty.

Being highly skillful, Rollers perform astounding aerobatics to impress their lady love, including a series of ‘rolls’. Hence, their name. Two dominant subspecies of Indian Rollers are as follows.

1. Coracias benghalensis benghalensis: This species is comparatively larger in size and also has a longer tail. It displays a blue crown with white streaks on its throat and chest. Pale orange extends from its lower mandible till its orbital skin—the skin around its eye. However, pale blue covers its belly, leaving the back with a brown tinge.
2. Coracias benghalensis indicus: This variety is smaller and darker. It displays less blue on its crown but flashes dark blue in its primaries— part of flight feathers. There are neither any whitish streaks on its throat nor any yellows on its orbital skin. Instead, it has a short neck, short tail, and brown belly.

The Rollers call is a harsh khak...kak...kak or a metallic boink. Easily attracted to fire and artificial lights, it often suffers from traffic collision and electrocution. Beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, frogs, lizards and other such insects and vertebrates comprise its preferred diet. As Rollers feed upon many infectious agricultural pests, they clearly become a farmers’ favourite.

At the peak of plume trade in the early 1900s, the Rollers were hunted widely. Nonetheless, they are sacred in Hindu mythology and are celebrated as Neelkanth, meaning 'blue throat' in Hindi. Associated with Lord Shiva—a Hindu God who drank poison resulting in blue throat— spotting Rollers on Maha-Shivratri is a popular practice. No wonder I spent a delightful childhood, in the hope of collecting its feathers near electric poles, farmlands, bare tree branches, and anywhere, everywhere.

(Photo credits: Athiya Mahapatra)

(This was first published in the 1-31 January 2022 edition of the Gobar Times.)