Ground roller

Bindenerdracke ( Brachypteracias leptosomus )

The Erdracken ( Brachypteraciidae ) are a small family in the order of coraciiformes ( Coraciiformes ). This family includes four genera and five species.

Erdracken are common in the dense forests of Madagascar. An exception is the long-tailed Erdracke ( Uratelornis chimaera ), lives in the bushland in south-western Madagascar. They owe their name to their earth-related lifestyle. Trees are usually only used as a means of escape. They are shy birds stocky with short, rounded wings and short, strong legs, but they are longer and stronger than in the other European Rollers. Their strong beaks are slightly bent downward. On the forest floor, they scratch with their claws for insects, other invertebrates and small reptiles. In the dense vegetation they are barely visible. Only the reputation betrays their presence. Their nests they create in self-dug burrows.

Genera and species

• Atelornis Blue head Erdracke ( Atelornis pittoides )
• Lätzchenerdracke ( Atelornis crossleyi )

• Bindenerdracke ( Brachypteracias leptosomus )

• Schuppenerdracke ( Geobiastes squamigera )

• Long-tailed Erdracke ( Uratelornis chimaera )

The extinct Ampoza - Erdracke ( Brachypteracias long randi ) is known only by subfossiles bone material.