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Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) Alternate name(s): "Chough", "Cornish Chough" German name(s): "Alpenkrähe" Size: 38-41 cm; wing span 73-90 cm Body mass: 207-375 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.41

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 Red-billed 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 bright-red, down-curved bill. The irises are dark; the (long) legs and feet are orange. Juveniles have a yellowish-brown bill and darker legs and feet than adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Red-billed 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 Red-billed Chough is available HERE . There are 8 extant races of Red-billed Choughs, which are sendentary throughout their range. The overall range extends from the Canary Islands and parts of western Europe and of north-western Africa through parts of southern Europe, via parts of Asia Minor into mountainous parts of subtropical Asia, as far eastward as northern China and south-eastern Siberia. In Europe there are three races of Red-billed Choughs. Nominate race "pyrrhocorax" is endemic to the British Isles, where it is restricted to western Ireland, the Isle of Man and far-western Wales and Scotland. After a long absence Red-billed Choughs have recently (2001) started to re-colonize Cornwall. Race "erythropthalmus" is the continental form that occurs outside of Greece. Its range extends through much of Iberia, some areas in southern France and parts of southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. In Europe, race "docilis" is found only in Greece. Red-billed Choughs occupy habitats where few other bird species will stay during summer, namely in alpine regions between 1200 m and 3000 m altitude (in some parts also higher). With a strong preference for rocky terrain, they also stay in ragged, rocky coastal areas, where they live down to sealevel.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "pyrrhocorax" C. Pears reports finding Red-billed Choughs, nominate race "pyrrhocorax", at Kynance Cove, Cornwall, England, UK, in October 2013. I. Chisnall spotted Red-billed Choughs, race "pyrrhocorax", at Great Orme, Wales, in April 2023. Race "erythropthalmus" J. Pires reports spotting Red-billed Choughs, race "erythropthalmus", regularly in Sagres, Algarve, Portugal.

Photos

Race "pyrrhocorax"

This race is also called the "Cornish Chough".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Red-billed Chough looking at the observer (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Great Orme, Wales, April 2023]

Lateral view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Great Orme, Wales, April 2023]

Lateral view of two foraging Red-billed Choughs (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Kynance Cove, Cornwall, England, UK, October 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Great Orme, Wales, April 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Great Orme, Wales, April 2023]

Dorsal view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of I. Chisnall)
[Great Orme, Wales, April 2023]

Race "erythropthalmus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]

Frontal view of a Red-billed Chough looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral view of a Red-billed Chough (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of Red-billed Choughs (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Frontal view of a Red-billed Chough in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Frontal/ventral view of a Red-billed Chough in flight; click on photo to see a second bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a clan of Red-billed Choughs in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Red-billed Chough in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Red-billed Chough in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

Ventral view of a Red-billed Chough in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Red-billed Chough in flight; note the yellowish-brown bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan/mob

Red-billed Choughs can appear in substantial flocks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2020]

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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