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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

Europe: Family Group 23 Family Group 23 Table 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 The Rook is the largest corvid found in the northern hemisphere. Its plumage is all glossy-black. In some light conditions is can have a purplish sheen to it. The crown can have a "peaked" appearance. Their most distinguishing feature is the nearly triangular, rather slim, light-grey bill with a somewhat darker tip. Only juvenile and immature Rooks have a feathery base to the bill. Adults do not have these feathers any longer and the bare base of the bill often renders their crop, when full, clearly visible. The eyes, which sit right behind the bare base of the bill, have black irises. The legs and feet are dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Rook at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website. The global distribution of the Rook is available HERE . There are at least two races of Rooks, which are mostly sedentary. Their range extends from the British Isles, including Ireland, and Iberia in the West, through all of Europe except central and northern Scandinavia, into western and southern central Asia (to the Himalayas), with a southern boundary from about Lebanon to inland northern India, thus NOT reaching the coastlines of the Persian Gulf or the Indian Ocean. The eastern race reaches most of eastern China, Korea, far-eastern Russia and Japan. In Europe nominate race "frugilegus" is found anywhere South of about +60 degrees geographic latitude (i.e. up to southern Norway and Sweden and the southern coastal strip of Finland), including the Mediterranean islands and most of European Russia (except the far northern part). Rooks often occupy habitats in open country that Common Ravens dislike, such as grassland, but also farming areas.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "frugilegus" In the past we used to see Rooks, race "frugilegus", regularly in the Eifel and around Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz, and in the Saarland, Germany. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Rooks, nominate race "frugilegus", in Masovia, Poland, regularly. H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting Rooks, nominate race "frugilegus", in the Rheingau, Hessen, Germany, regularly.

Photos

Race "frugilegus"

ADULT

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]

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 immature 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]

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]

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