Red-billed Chough

Red-billed Chough

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Least Concern

Known for its striking red bill and feet, the Red-billed Chough is a charismatic member of the crow family. Found in the high mountains and rocky coasts of Europe and Asia, this glossy black bird is admired for its acrobatic flight and distinctive high-pitched call. Despite its dramatic habitat and vivid colouration, the Red-billed Chough remains a friendly and sociable bird, often seen in large, chattering flocks outside the breeding season.

Appearance and Identification

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Color

Black

Primary Color (juvenile)

Black

Secondary Colors

Red

Secondary Colors (female)

Secondary Colors (juvenile)

Brown

Secondary Colors (seasonal)

Wing Color

Black

Wing Color (juvenile)

Black

Beak Type

Long

Beak Color

Red

Beak Color (juvenile)

Yellow

Leg Color

Red

Leg Color (juvenile)

Yellow

Distinctive Markings

Red bill and legs, glossy plumage

Distinctive Markings (juvenile)

Less glossy plumage, yellow bill and legs

Tail Description

Long and square-ended

Tail Description (juvenile)

Shorter and less square-ended

Size Metrics

38cm to 41cm

Length

73cm to 90cm

Wingspan

207g to 375g

Weight

Photos

Click on an image below to see the full-size version

Vocalization and Sounds

Primary Calls

High pitched 'chee-ow'

Call Description

High pitched, piercing and distinctive, often given in flight

Alarm Calls

Repeated 'kya' calls

Behavior and Social Structure

Daily Activities

Active during the day, foraging in morning and late afternoon

Social Habits

Seasonally social, forming large flocks in winter

Territorial Behavior

Strongly territorial during breeding season

Migratory Patterns

None

Interaction with Other Species

Generally sociable, but can be aggressive towards other species

Diet

Primary Diet

Insects, Seeds, Berries

Feeding Habits

Forages on the ground, probing soil with bill

Feeding Times

Morning and late afternoon

Prey Capture Method

Probing and picking

Diet Variations

Seasonal variation based on food availability

Special Dietary Needs (if any)

None known

Nesting

Nesting Location

Cliff crevices and caves

Nest Construction

Built from sticks and lined with wool and grass

Breeding Season

April to July

Number of clutches (per breeding season)

One

Egg Appearance

Pale blue with brown spots

Egg Size

3.5cm x 2.5cm

Clutch Characteristics

3-5 eggs

Incubation Period

17-18 days

Fledgling Period

36-41 days

Parental Care

Females incubate and both parents and feed chicks, sometimes with a helper

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

Western Europe and North Africa, Asia

Habitat Description

Mountainous regions with cliffs and crags

Elevation Range

Up to 4000m

Migration Patterns

None

Biome

Mountain, Grassland

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

Please note, this range and distribution map is a high-level overview, and doesn't break down into specific regions and areas of the countries.

© 2024 - Birdfact

Distribution notes

Extinct in Slovenia and Tunisia, and possibly extinct in Lebanon

Resident or Present

Spain, The United Kingdom, Italy, France, Andorra, Greece, Ireland, Macedonia, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Azerbaijan

Breeding

Albania, Armenia, China, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Vagrant

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, Slovakia, South Korea

Lifespan and Life Cycle

Lifespan range (years)

5

15

Average Lifespan

11 year(s)

Maturity Age

2 year(s)

Breeding Age

2 year(s)

Reproductive Behavior

Monogamous, often with lifelong pair-bond, often returning to same nesting site

Age-Related Changes

None

Conservation Status

Current Status

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Major Threats

Habitat loss, climate change, disturbance

Conservation Efforts

Habitat protection, reintroduction programs

Population Trend

Slight decrease in population, but no concern due to large population

Classification

Other names:

Cornish Chough, Chough

Family:

Corvidae

Population size:

800000-1799999

Population trend:

Decreasing

Conservation status:

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

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