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ROOK(Corvus
frugilegus)
Raucous relative of the crow. After a day foraging in the
fields, rooks head to the trees en masse; a noisy congregation settling down
for a good night’s sleep among the branches.
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Rooks
have all-black plumage.
Credit:
Rob Shennan / Alamy Stock
Photo
Appearance and
behaviour
How to spot them
Threats
Quick facts
Common names:
rook
Scientific
name:
Corvus frugilegus
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Family:
Corvidae (crows)
Habitat:
farmland, grassland, open woodland
Diet:
invertebrates, grain, fruit and acorns
Predators:
birds of prey
Origin:
native
What
do rooks look like?
Rooks have all-black plumage, but an iridescent sheen is notable
when seen up close. They are slightly smaller than crows, with a typical
wingspan of 90cm. The species’ key identifying feature is the grey-white skin
at the base of its long, pointed beak. This distinguishes it from the
similar-looking carrion crow, which has an all-black beak.
Credit:
William Osborn / naturepl.com
What
do rooks eat?
Worms, beetles and other invertebrates are the rook’s main food,
which it catches by probing the ground with its large beak. It will also feed
on grain, fruit, acorns and occasionally carrion and birds’ eggs.
Rooks build their nests high up in the trees.
Credit: Mike Wilkes / naturepl.com
Did
you know?
Rooks are intelligent and have demonstrated the ability to use
tools and solve problems.
How
do rooks breed?
Rooks are communal breeders, nesting in colonies known as
rookeries. Nests are built high in the trees and made of twigs and branches.
These are broken off trees or stolen from a nearby nest. Some rookeries can
contain thousands of birds, with their noisy calls making them easy to
discover.
Rooks normally build their nests in February or March, but may
start as early as January. We’re interested in learning whether climate change
is affecting when rooks start nest building. Why not record your sightings of
rooks gathering nesting materials to help us find out?
Typically, three to four eggs will be laid in spring, hatching
after around two weeks. Chicks will stay in the nest for just over a month
before fledging.
Credit:
Nick Upton / naturepl.com
Where
do rooks live?
The rook is a common bird with around one million pairs breeding
each year. It occurs in farmland and open country across the UK, but is rare in
mountainous areas and large towns and cities.
Did
you know?
Rooks are often seen feeding alongside jackdaws, a smaller
member of the crow family.
Signs
and spotting tips
As large, noisy and social birds, rooks are easy to spot. Look
for groups of black birds feeding in open fields and along roadsides. In
winter, keep your eyes peeled for flocks flying above woodland as they come in
to roost.
Rook call
may interest you THE DECORATIVE DEERHOUND.
Audio:
James Bradley / xeno-canto.org
BLOG
Rook, crow or raven? How to tell the difference
Sally Bavin • 14 Jan 2020
Crows, rooks and ravens are all part of the crow family and can
be tricky to identify. Here are our tips on how to tell them apart.
Threats
and conservation
Widespread and numerous, rooks are not of conservation concern.
However, a moderate decline in their numbers has been recorded since 1995.
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