Chough

Chough, common name for any of three species of large black birds, related to crows. The common chough has eight subspecies, ranging from the western coasts of Ireland through Europe across northern India and into north-eastern China and Asia, and as far south as northern Africa. In Britain the common chough is now restricted to coastal areas in the west of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. It has all-black plumage, a slender red beak, and red legs. Its overall length is about 38 cm (15 in). The alpine chough is very similar to the common chough but has a yellow beak, which is shorter and straighter. The alpine chough lives in the mountains of Europe, northern Africa, and in the Himalaya but not near coastlines.

Both species are sociable and live in small groups around cliffs and caves. They eat insects and their larvae, worms, and corn, and will scavenge for carrion. The common chough’s longer beak is particularly well adapted for probing among short grass. The alpine chough also readily eats berries and small fruits.

The nest is made of twigs and grasses and is built on a cliff ledge, overhang, or crevice. The alpine chough sometimes builds its nest in buildings. A clutch of four to five eggs is laid in April or May; the eggs are greenish or buffish and blotched with reddish-brown. They are incubated by the female for about 19 days, incubation beginning when the first egg is laid. The young are fed on food regurgitated by both parents, and fledge at about 38 days old.

The white-winged chough from eastern and south-eastern Australia is unrelated to the other two “true” chough species. This bird has a white patch on its wings, a black beak, and black legs. At 45 cm (18 in) in length, it is larger than the “true” choughs. It lives in more open land with trees and grasses, groups foraging on the ground in search of any invertebrates. A communal nest is built by several males high in a tree. Several females then lay up to five eggs in the nest. The eggs are creamy-white with dark markings. The eggs and young are cared for communally, incubation lasting about 20 days. The young fledge at about 25 days, but they depend upon the adults for some weeks after. Two broods may be reared in a season.

Scientific classification: The “true” choughs belong to the genus Pyrrhocorax in the family Corvidae (crows and jays) which is in the order Passeriformes (perching birds). The common chough is classified as Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax and the alpine chough as Pyrrhocorax graculus. The white-winged chough is classified as Corcorax melanorhamphos and belongs to the genus Corcorax in the family Grallinidae (magpie larks), also in the order Passeriformes.