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23

Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) Alternate name(s): "Yellow-billed Chough" German name(s): "Alpendohle" Size: 37-39 cm; wing span 75-85 cm Weight: 190-250 g

Europe: Family Group 23 Family Group 23 Table Eurasian Nutcracker Red-billed Chough Alpine Chough Eurasian Jay Western Jackdaw Hooded Crow Carrion Crow Rook Common Raven Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Alpine Choughs are medium-sized raven-like birds. Their plumage is all glossy-black and both sexes look alike. Being rather slender, in shape they are most similar to a Rook. Their most distinguishing feature is the thin yellow, down-curved bill. The irises are dark; the (short) legs and feet are orange.

Taxonomy, classification See Alpine Chough at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Alpine Chough is available HERE . Apart from the southern and central European mountain ranges, Alpine Choughs, nominate race "graculus", are also found around parts of Asia Minor, in particular Anatolia, and southward of the Caucasus mountain range, in northern Iran. Race "digitatus" populates basically the northern fringe of the Himalayas. In Europe nominate race "graculus" is found in all the major high mountain ranges, namely the Alps, Pyrenees and the Balkans, down to the southern tip of Greece, and also on Crete. They are also present in Sardinia and there are some areas in the Apennin mountains in Italy where the species is found. Another area where they are commonly found is the Caucasus mountain range. Alpine Choughs occupy habitats where few other bird species will stay during summer, namely in alpine regions between 1500 m and 3900 m altitude. They breed only in areas where steep, inaccessible precipices are found.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "graculus" S. Cuturilov reports spotting Alpine Choughs, race "graculus", on the Pester plateau, south-western Serbia, in June 2017. G. Normand found Alpine Choughs, race "graculus", in the Pyrenees near Merens-les-Vals, Ariege, France, in June 2021.

Photos

Race "graculus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Alpine Choughs foraging in a high-altitude meadow; note the yellow bills (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Pester plateau, Serbia, June 2017]

Alpine Choughs foraging in a high-altitude meadow (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Pester plateau, Serbia, June 2017]

Ventral view of an Alpine Chough in flight (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pyrenees, near Merens-les-Vals, Ariege, France, in June 2021]

Behaviour

Alpine Choughs can form large flocks, of up to hundreds of birds. It is unusual that they do so not only in winter and or the time of dispersal, but also during the breeding season.

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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