Red-billed Chough

The red-billed chough, also known as the Cornish chough or simply chough, is a striking bird in the crow family. It is one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax. The bird is characterized by its glossy black plumage, a long curved red bill, red legs, and a loud, ringing call. It exhibits a buoyant acrobatic flight with widely spread primaries.

Identification Tips

Adults can be identified by their velvet-black, green-glossed body, red bill, and legs. Juveniles initially have an orange bill and pink legs, which darken by autumn. The red-billed chough is unmistakable in its range, with no other bird species sharing its combination of coloration and bill shape.

Habitat

The red-billed chough is found in high mountains and coastal cliffs. It breeds in areas ranging from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain to the Himalayas, where it can be found at altitudes up to 6,000 meters in the summer.

Distribution

This bird's distribution spans from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain, through southern Europe and North Africa, to Central Asia, India, and China. It is a non-migratory resident throughout its range.

Behaviour

The red-billed chough is known for its life-long pair bonds and site fidelity. It typically nests in caves or crevices in cliff faces, showing a preference for high-altitude habitats. However, in the British Isles and Brittany, it also breeds on coastal sea cliffs.

Song & Calls

The chough's call is a clear and loud "chee-ow," which is more resonant than that of the jackdaw and distinct from the Alpine chough's calls.

Breeding

Choughs breed from three years of age, usually raising one brood per year. They exhibit strong fidelity to their mate and nesting site. The nest is wool-lined and typically contains three to five eggs. Both parents share in feeding the chicks and keeping the nest clean.

Diet and Feeding

The red-billed chough's diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, which it forages from the ground. It prefers short grassland for feeding, often created by grazing animals like sheep and rabbits.

Conservation status

Globally, the red-billed chough is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its European range has declined due to changes in agricultural practices, leading to population declines and fragmentation. In Europe, it is considered "vulnerable."

Similar Species

The red-billed chough can be distinguished from the Alpine chough by its red bill and legs, as well as its distinct call. The jackdaw, which shares part of its range, is smaller with unglossed grey plumage and lacks the red bill and legs.