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23

Rook

(Corvus frugilegus)
German name(s): "Saatkrähe"
Size: 41-49 cm; wing span 81-94 cm
Weight: 330-600 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Rook_(bird) at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "frugilegus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Rook (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a bird that we tentatively identify as a Rook (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2019]

Lateral view of a Rook (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Grüner Brink, Fehmarn, Germany, May 2019]

Lateral view of a Rook foraging in a recently slashed meadow; note the extended crop, which is visible because Rooks loose the feathers at the base of their bill (both bottom and top) when reaching maturity (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, June 2016]

Lateral view of Rooks foraging in a recently slashed meadow; note the extended crop of the bird in front
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, June 2016]

Rooks foraging in a recently slashed meadow; note the full crops (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, June 2016]

Lateral view of a Rook issuing its call (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, February 2017]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Rook (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Small flock of Rooks foraging in a recently slashed meadow (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Brok, Masovia, Poland, June 2016]

Rooks can also be found in other agricultural areas such as, in this example, vineyards (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, June 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Adult Rook, centre right, and juvenile Rook, back right, together with other corvids, namely Hooded Crows, front, and the smaller Western Jackdaws; note the immature Rook's feathery base of the bill (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Aug? Eggs: 3 - 5 Incubation period: 16 - 18 days Fledging age: 32 - 33 days

Nest building: Male & female Incubation: Female Dependent care: Male & female

Rooks are colonial nesters. Nests from previous years may be reused after refurbishing. The male is usually the one who collects nest material, while the female puts it in place. Rooks will steal material for their nests from neighbours. Females will test their mates in bonding rituals, begging for food prior to mating. They usually have one clutch per year, with the female taking on the bulk of the incubation duties, while being fed by the male. The male continues feeding the female and the clutch until the chicks are ca. 10 days old. At that time the female joins its mate in search of food and the chicks are not brooded all day long any longer.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Sticks & earth, with grass, moss, roots, leaves or straw lining Height above ground: ?

Rooks at their nests (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Dornumersieler Tief, Ostfriesland, Germany, June 2021]

Eggs

Size: 40 x 28 mm Colour: Greyish-green, with copious grey and brown speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Rooks are very sociable. They breed in colonies and flock outside the breeding season, often in large numbers, in particular around roosts.

Food, Diet

Lateral view of a Rook, centre, in a flock with other corvids, namely Hooded Crows, left, and Western Jackdaws, front right and back right (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Rooks trying to beat other corvids, in this case the smaller Western Jackdaws, to a feed of silage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Wizna, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

rook_dw_20190415.m4a frugilegus
(Poland)
Contact calls? © DW
rook_dw_20170201.m4a frugilegus
(Poland)
Contact calls? © DW
rook_dw_20190729_1.m4a frugilegus
(Poland)
Break of dawn calls? © DW
rook_dw_20190729_2.m4a frugilegus
(Poland)
Break of dawn calls? © DW

More Rook sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.