Rook
Rooks are a member of the corvid family, which include some of the smartest animals on the planet.
They are big, heavy birds with a length of 17.3 to 18.1 in. (44 to 46 cm), a wingspan of 32 to 39 in. (81 to 99 cm) and a weight of 9.9 to 12 oz. ( 280 to 340 g). Rooks tend to appear dishevelled with a ruffled black plumage, that has a purple sheen in bright sunshine. Adults have a beak that is longer and looks pointier than a crow’s. It is pale grey beak with a distinctive patch of grey skin at the base Juveniles however have an all black beak that makes them look more like a crow.
Distribution of rooks in the UK is widespread but they are absent from the far north-west of Scotland. Rooks are most common in the countryside, and rookeries may be seen in the top branches of mature trees between farm fields and in rural villages. They will venture into towns if the right habitat is available. Rookeries can be very large and distinctive, and clearly visible in bare branches over winter. Rookeries are often in use for years, sometimes decades. Rooks are early nesters, and from February they can be seen flying back to their rookery carrying large sticks as they seek to repair winter damage.
Rooks are sociable birds and spend much of the year together in big groups, feeding, roosting and even nesting in close quarters. In winter, they can join up with other corvids, particularly jackdaws, to roost together. These groups often perform impressive dusk and dawn displays where they fly around together, calling loudly. In flight, the tail of a rook looks slightly wedge shaped. Large flocks of rooks are often seen in fields or mobbing birds of prey
Like all corvids, rooks are opportunistic, resourceful birds, and they will eat almost anything, including worms, grain, nuts, insects, small mammals, birds, especially eggs and nestlings, and carrion. Rooks have very good memories and will bury food, then return later to retrieve it.
The UK breeding population of rooks is 980,000 pairs. They lay between 3 and 5 eggs which are incubated by the female for 15 or 16 days. The chicks fledge between 32 and 34 days. A chick can expect to have an average lifespan of 6 years, but the oldest ringed bird recorded in the UK was 22 years, 11 months, 0 days, and the actual age may have been greater.
The rook's UK conservation status is assessed as 'Amber'.
Rook
Rooks are a member of the corvid family, which include some of the smartest animals on the planet.
They are big, heavy birds with a length of 17.3 to 18.1 in. (44 to 46 cm), a wingspan of 32 to 39 in. (81 to 99 cm) and a weight of 9.9 to 12 oz. ( 280 to 340 g). Rooks tend to appear dishevelled with a ruffled black plumage, that has a purple sheen in bright sunshine. Adults have a beak that is longer and looks pointier than a crow’s. It is pale grey beak with a distinctive patch of grey skin at the base Juveniles however have an all black beak that makes them look more like a crow.
Distribution of rooks in the UK is widespread but they are absent from the far north-west of Scotland. Rooks are most common in the countryside, and rookeries may be seen in the top branches of mature trees between farm fields and in rural villages. They will venture into towns if the right habitat is available. Rookeries can be very large and distinctive, and clearly visible in bare branches over winter. Rookeries are often in use for years, sometimes decades. Rooks are early nesters, and from February they can be seen flying back to their rookery carrying large sticks as they seek to repair winter damage.
Rooks are sociable birds and spend much of the year together in big groups, feeding, roosting and even nesting in close quarters. In winter, they can join up with other corvids, particularly jackdaws, to roost together. These groups often perform impressive dusk and dawn displays where they fly around together, calling loudly. In flight, the tail of a rook looks slightly wedge shaped. Large flocks of rooks are often seen in fields or mobbing birds of prey
Like all corvids, rooks are opportunistic, resourceful birds, and they will eat almost anything, including worms, grain, nuts, insects, small mammals, birds, especially eggs and nestlings, and carrion. Rooks have very good memories and will bury food, then return later to retrieve it.
The UK breeding population of rooks is 980,000 pairs. They lay between 3 and 5 eggs which are incubated by the female for 15 or 16 days. The chicks fledge between 32 and 34 days. A chick can expect to have an average lifespan of 6 years, but the oldest ringed bird recorded in the UK was 22 years, 11 months, 0 days, and the actual age may have been greater.
The rook's UK conservation status is assessed as 'Amber'.