Rook
Corvus frugilegus
Rooks are remarkably intelligent and have demonstrated the ability to use and even manufacture simple tools in captivity, similar to chimpanzees.
- Scientific name
- Corvus frugilegus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Corvidae › Corvus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open agricultural land, pastures, and parklands with nearby stands of tall trees for nesting.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily earthworms, soil invertebrates, grain, and seeds.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, New Zealand (introduced)
- Size
- 44-46 cm in length with a wingspan of 81-99 cm.
- Lifespan
- Approximately 6 years on average, though some individuals reach over 20 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Pesticide use reducing prey availability, removal of nesting trees, and changes in land management.
- Safe to approach?
- Rooks are generally harmless to humans but wary. Maintain a distance of 10 meters from nesting colonies (rookeries) to prevent stress. If you find a grounded chick, leave it be unless it is visibly injured. If pecked or scratched, wash the area with soap and water.
The rook ( Corvus frugilegus ) is a member of the family Corvidae in the passerine order of birds. It was given its binomial name by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, The binomial is from Latin; Corvus is for "raven", and frugilegus is Latin for "fruit-gathering", from frux, frugis , "fruit", and legere , "to pick". The English name is ultimately derived from the bird's harsh call.
Photo: hedera.baltica, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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