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.
Males and females have similar plumage
Black
Black
Red
Brown
Black
Black
Long
Red
Yellow
Red
Yellow
Red bill and legs, glossy plumage
Less glossy plumage, yellow bill and legs
Long and square-ended
Shorter and less square-ended
38cm to 41cm
Length
73cm to 90cm
Wingspan
207g to 375g
Weight
Click on an image below to see the full-size version
High pitched 'chee-ow'
High pitched, piercing and distinctive, often given in flight
Repeated 'kya' calls
Active during the day, foraging in morning and late afternoon
Seasonally social, forming large flocks in winter
Strongly territorial during breeding season
None
Generally sociable, but can be aggressive towards other species
Insects, Seeds, Berries
Forages on the ground, probing soil with bill
Morning and late afternoon
Probing and picking
Seasonal variation based on food availability
None known
Cliff crevices and caves
Built from sticks and lined with wool and grass
April to July
One
Pale blue with brown spots
3.5cm x 2.5cm
3-5 eggs
17-18 days
36-41 days
Females incubate and both parents and feed chicks, sometimes with a helper
Western Europe and North Africa, Asia
Mountainous regions with cliffs and crags
Up to 4000m
None
Mountain, Grassland
Temperate, Subtropical
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.
Distribution notes
Extinct in Slovenia and Tunisia, and possibly extinct in Lebanon
Resident or Present
Breeding
Vagrant
5
15
11 year(s)
2 year(s)
2 year(s)
Monogamous, often with lifelong pair-bond, often returning to same nesting site
None
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Habitat loss, climate change, disturbance
Habitat protection, reintroduction programs
Slight decrease in population, but no concern due to large population
Other names:
Cornish Chough, Chough
Family:
CorvidaePopulation size:
800000-1799999
Population trend:
Decreasing
Conservation status:
Least Concern
IUCN Red List
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