The Leptosomiformes order contains only one living species, the Cuckoo-roller (Leptosomus discolor).  It is found only in Madagascar and the nearby Comoro Islands. It lives in forests, woodlands, and savannas.

The Cuckoo-roller is a medium-sized bird with a long tail and strong wings. Males have a gray head and chest, and their back, tail, and wing-coverts are dark iridescent* green with a purplish tinge. Females have mostly brown feathers.

Cuckoo-rollers spend much of their time perched quietly before flying out to catch prey. Their diet consists mainly of insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, and cicadas, but they may also eat small reptiles and other invertebrates.

Cuckoo-rollers nest in tree cavities. During courtship, males perform flight displays to attract females. The female usually lays two to four eggs, and both parents help care for the young.

*Iridescent means something shines with bright, rainbow-like colors that seem to change when you look at it from different angles—like a soap bubble or a butterfly’s wings.

FAMILIES

Leptosomidae  (Cuckoo-roller)