Rook
NameRook
Common NameRook
Scientific NameCorvus frugilegus
FamilyCorvidae
Wingspan (cm)90
Length (cm)46
Weight (g)455
Plumage DetailsEntirely glossy black plumage with a purplish-blue sheen, particularly noticeable in good light. Adults possess a distinctive bare, greyish-white patch of skin at the base of the bill, which is a key identification feature.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its harsh, often repeated 'kaaa' or 'kraa' calls, which are typically higher-pitched and less resonant than those of a Carrion Crow. They also produce a variety of softer, more complex vocalizations within their colonies.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across temperate Eurasia, ranging from the British Isles and Western Europe eastward through Central Asia to eastern Siberia and northern China.
Identifying Featuresbare pale skin at bill base, glossy black plumage with purplish sheen, shaggy leg feathers, social behavior in rookeries, harsh 'kaaa' call
Description
The Rook is a large, intelligent, all-black passerine bird easily identified by the distinctive pale, bare patch of skin at the base of its bill. These highly social birds often nest in large colonies called rookeries and forage extensively in open fields and farmlands.
