23 |
![]() |
Rook![]() Size: 41-49 cm; wing span 81-94 cm Weight: 330-600 g |
![]() |
Similar |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
See Rook_(bird)
at Wikipedia |
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
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
.