From Opus

Photo by christineredgate
Haverigg, Cumbria, UK

Alternative names: Eurasian Rook; Eastern Rook (pastinator)

Corvus frugilegus

[edit] Identification

46 cm
Plumage is totally black, with a strong purple/violet gloss in the sun. Long, pointed pale bill leading to a black tip. Bare whitish face (in adult). Loose thigh feathers looking like 'baggy trousers'. Slightly peaked crown. Black legs. Rather rounded tail.
Juvenile is duller with a fully feathered face.

[edit] Similar Species

Carrion Crow has a much stouter all black bill, which is de-curved at the tip. Beware of confusion juvenile Rook and Carrion Crow. Common Raven is much larger and has a massive bill.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by Mali
West Hythe, Kent, UK

Found in Europe and Asia.
Widespread in Europe, reaching south Sweden, south Norway and west Finland in the north, northern Spain in the southwest. Patchily found in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. In Russia east to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and most of China.
Reaches the Mediterranean in winter, also the Middle East, Iran, the Indian Subcontinent and south China,
An introduced population in New Zealand.
Very common to abundant in the west despite massive persecution as a pest bird. Pastinator in the east is much more localized and rarer.

[edit] Taxonomy

Polytypic. Consists of two subspecies:

• C. f. frugilegus from Europe east to central Siberia
• C. f. pastinator from central Siberia eastwards

[edit] Habitat

Open fields, or feeding in small groups along a roadside. They will come into town parks and villages.

[edit] Behaviour

Juvenile
Photo by breffni
Louth, Ireland, September 2005

Very gregarious throughout the year

[edit] Breeding

Nesting is in large colonies.
The nest is built high in a tree close to other nests. The nest is bulky and made from twigs bound together with earth, lined with moss, leaves, grass, wool, and hair. Previous years' nests may be renovated and reused.
Three to nine eggs are laid which are smooth, glossy and light blue, greenish-blue or green with dark spots. The eggs are about 40 mm long. The female incubates the eggs for 16-20 days. Both parents feed the young after they have hatched.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, worms, carrion and seeds. They will visit bird tables for scraps and fruit.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: "kaaa" (less harsh than Crow).

[edit] References

1. British Garden Birds
2. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
3. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
4. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
5. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

• List of references

[edit] External Links