the approximately 17 Rackenarten in 3 subfamilies puts with its colorful plumage, that there black legs and feet and its powerful beak the "prototype" of the so multifarious Racken screws so to speak.
Kurole (Leptosomatinae)) A special-position earns only the 42-45 cm big Kurol (Leptosomus discolor) from Madagascar and the Comoros; one therefore places it into an independent subfamily. As one single representative of its order, the "Cuckoo-Roller" trains Puderdunen at the Bürzel namely, didn't heal with the others also the outer front-toe both but can be turned to the back. Furthermore, Kurole show a clear Geschlechtsdimorphismus: The bigger female has a brownish plumage and is gebändert black on the upper side, below however black stained, while the back-side is green feathered with the male Kurol (until on the gray neck), and a copper-colored metal-shine carries. The remaining body is light-gray. Both sexes have a green head-bonnet.
Way of life How also other Racken, Kurole (from attendants in treetops from) hunt insects (like like cuckoos catches it also strongly hairy caterpillars) and tree-living in reptiles, almost never goes on the ground, however. In the forest-areas and bush-savannas of its home, the Kurole wander sociably; its multifarious reputations alert already to the birds from further distance. To the Balzzeit, the males execute showy Balzflüge with all sorts of acrobatic stunts. This Balzflüge with steep crashes, loops etc. is widespread with Racken and helped the birds to its English name "Scooter."
Blauracken (Coraciinae)) In this subfamily, 6 further types of the type Coracias as well as the type Eurystomus ("Breitschnabelracken") are summarized beside the Blauracke. It is the 28-35 cm big "East-scooters" or dollar-bird (Eurystomus orientalis) in many subtypes far over Asia, New Guinea as well as in north and East-Australia spreads. The 25-30 cm long cinnamon-scooter (Eu). glaucurus, and the bluebird-scooter (Eu). gularis, lives only in the tropical Africa and Madagascar (cinnamon-scooters) on the other hand.
Way of life All 3 "scooters" live in forest-areas where they make hunt protected on flight-insects from Ansitzen from. Occasionally, they carry off also small mammals and reptiles. During the rain-time (in central-Africa also all-year), these Racken - also like the Kurol - set aside 2-3 white eggs in tree-caves, that become erbrütet for 3 weeks approximately from (probably) both alto-birds.
Shape The "scooters" distinguish the shorter, wide beaks as well as the exactly cut-off, short tails from members of the type Coracias. With almost all Racken, blue and brown tones are prevalent in the plumage.
Erdracken (Brachypteraciinae)) The Erdracken, that are given a home in Madagascar, form the third subfamily.
Scientific name: