Subspecies:pyrrhocorax recorded in Britain (of 8 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
40 cm
Wingspan:
82 cm
Weight:
M/F: 310 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: purrhos=flame-coloured + korax=raven
World Distribution:
Locally in Eurasia, Ethiopia
Habitat:
Open country, often rocky
Diet:
Soil-dwelling invertebrates, winter, also grain and berries, on open ground
TitBit:
Legend has it that when the Chough returns to breed in Cornwall, King Arthur will rise again. It is said he turned into a chough on his death, and the bird is included in the county arms. The first to breed there recently did so in 2001…
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
428 to 496 pairs
in 2002
First Record:
10th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Johnstone, I. et al. (2007) Bird Study 54:23-34
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
28 to 85 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I,IV), WBD(I), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
BirdTrack
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
39 x 28 mm
Egg Weight:
15.7 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
28
Clutch Size:
3 - 5 eggs
Incubation:
17 - 18 days
by the:
Female
Fledging:
41 - 31 days
as:
Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
260
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
0.725 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
3
years
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
16yr8m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E (pulli E or Fo)
Wing Length
Adult:
283.5 ± 12.0
Range
260 - 303 mm, N =71
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
292.5 ± 9.4
273 - 305 mm, N =34
Female:
275.9 ± 7.1
260 - 283 mm, N =34
Weight
Adult:
327.7 ± 35.72
Range
280.0 - 370.0 g , N =70
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
352.6 ± 33.90
306.0 - 389.0 g , N =33
Female:
304.5 ± 16.45 .
280.0 - 334.0 g , N =34
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Red-billed Chough
Gaelic:
Cathag-dhearg-chasach
Welsh:
Bran Goesgoch
Danish:
Alpekrage
Dutch:
Alpenkraai
Finnish:
Alppivaris
French:
Crave à bec rouge
German:
Alpenkrähe
Hungarian:
Havasi varjú
Icelandic:
Bjargkorpungur
Irish:
Cág Cosdearg
Italian:
Gracchio corallino
Norwegian:
Alpenkraai
Polish:
Wronczyk
Portuguese:
Gralha-de-bico-vermelho
Spanish:
Chova piquiroja
Swedish:
Alpkråka
Local Names: Fire Raven
Collective Noun: Clattering
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
No books written recently
See Also:
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
BOU Register of Avian Theses entry
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.21, Jun 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
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Other Names
