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TranslateRook, (Corvus frugilegus)
Rook, (Corvus frugilegus), Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Corvidae.
Length: 44 to 46cm. Wingspan: 81 to 99cm. Weight: 460 to 520g
Can live up to 10 years.
Seen: All year round in the United Kingdom, although absent from the north-west of Scotland, and most Scandinavia countries. Ranges mainly from Central Western Europe, over to Eastern Siberia, not so common in the southern Countries of Europe, especially most countries that border onto the Mediterranean Sea.
Nesting: Rooks can be seen congregating in the tree-tops from early spring, preparing their nesting sites, this is called a Rookery. Rookeries are usually close to farms, villages and open spaced towns. These nests consist of large sticks, wedged into the top branches of trees. The nest is lined with grass, leaves and moss. 3 to 6 eggs are laid, one brood a year.
Habitat: In winter, Rooks are often seen foraging in large flocks with Jackdaws, Pigeons, and Crows. Sometimes in competition with seagulls, on arable land, pastures and woodland edges. In Summertime, they will venture (less in numbers), into urban parks and large country gardens, favouring spinneys with tall trees.
Feeding: Eats earthworms, grubs, snails, soil-based invertebrates, berries, will also forage for young cereal plants and roots in arable land and in orchards, for various fruit (so not a farmer’s friend). Will be seen searching along roadsides, for insects and various animals, that have been recently killed on the roads. When the opportunity arises, the rook will also raid food waste from bins and garbage bags. Will also raid other bird nests to eat the young or eggs.
Like other corvids, the Rook is a very intelligent bird, having the ability to solve simple problems. Rooks are highly gregarious (sociable) birds, will be seen in flocks of various number of birds. Males and females’ pair-bond for life, staying together within their flocks.
Read MoreFamily: Corvidae.
Length: 44 to 46cm. Wingspan: 81 to 99cm. Weight: 460 to 520g
Can live up to 10 years.
Seen: All year round in the United Kingdom, although absent from the north-west of Scotland, and most Scandinavia countries. Ranges mainly from Central Western Europe, over to Eastern Siberia, not so common in the southern Countries of Europe, especially most countries that border onto the Mediterranean Sea.
Nesting: Rooks can be seen congregating in the tree-tops from early spring, preparing their nesting sites, this is called a Rookery. Rookeries are usually close to farms, villages and open spaced towns. These nests consist of large sticks, wedged into the top branches of trees. The nest is lined with grass, leaves and moss. 3 to 6 eggs are laid, one brood a year.
Habitat: In winter, Rooks are often seen foraging in large flocks with Jackdaws, Pigeons, and Crows. Sometimes in competition with seagulls, on arable land, pastures and woodland edges. In Summertime, they will venture (less in numbers), into urban parks and large country gardens, favouring spinneys with tall trees.
Feeding: Eats earthworms, grubs, snails, soil-based invertebrates, berries, will also forage for young cereal plants and roots in arable land and in orchards, for various fruit (so not a farmer’s friend). Will be seen searching along roadsides, for insects and various animals, that have been recently killed on the roads. When the opportunity arises, the rook will also raid food waste from bins and garbage bags. Will also raid other bird nests to eat the young or eggs.
Like other corvids, the Rook is a very intelligent bird, having the ability to solve simple problems. Rooks are highly gregarious (sociable) birds, will be seen in flocks of various number of birds. Males and females’ pair-bond for life, staying together within their flocks.
