It is without a doubt that Kenya's most common symbol of national unity is the flag and the coat of arms as taught in schools and constantly observed.
However, one of the least known symbols is a bird, identified as the lilac-breasted roller, which is called Kambu in Swahili and Golo in Giriama.
The bird was brought to the country's attention after Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) posted a tweet concerning the bird on Thursday, October 31.
The lilac-breasted roller was picked because of bright colours which are symbolic of the many tribes in the country.
According to Just Birding, a website dedicated to matters ornithology, the bird could have just as easily been called the “rainbow roller.” It has around 8 colours; green, white, black, yellow, turquoise, dark blue, reddish-brown, and lilac.
The bird's Latin name Coracias caudatus was given to it by a Swedish scientist identified as Carl Linnaeus. There are two subspecies, C.c caudatus, and C.c. lorti. The latter is sometimes called the “blue-breasted roller” or the “lilac-throated roller,” The two subspecies live in different parts of Africa, and their ranges do not overlap.
Lilac-breasted rollers avoid human-inhabited areas. Reports indicate that outside of protected zones such as national parks and reserves, the bird may infrequently be seen when farmers burn land for agricultural use. This is because the act drives out insects and rodents which it feeds on.
The birds are dimorphic in nature, meaning that there is no visible feature that easily links it to any sex.
The diet of the lilac-breasted roller consists of arthropods and small vertebrates, including ground-dwelling insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes and millipedes, snails, and a variety of small vertebrates like birds, slow-moving lizards, chameleons, and snakes.
Another key trait of the lilac bird is that it does not suffer from the definite fear of humans that other birds might possess. Just Birding reported that a human can get close to the bird without it flying off.
The fearless bird also has a unique hunting habit. When it spots prey, the bird will swoop down and if the target is too big, it clobbers its victim with its wings.
The bird is also stated to be monogamous by nature.
Videos: The Lilac Bird, description
