Red-billed chough

The red-billed chough, also called the Cornish chough or simply chough, is a bird in the crow family, and one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax. It lives on mountains and coastal cliffs from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain, stretching east through southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and as far as Central Asia, India, and China. This bird has shiny black feathers, a long curved red bill, red legs, and makes a loud, ringing call.

The red-billed chough flies in a buoyant, acrobatic way with its wings spread wide. These birds stay together as pairs for their whole lives and often return to the same spot each year to build their nest. Their nests are made in caves or crevices in cliffs and lined with wool, and they usually lay three eggs. They search for food together in groups on short, grazed grasslands, mainly eating small animals such as insects.

Even though these birds face dangers from other animals and parasites, their biggest challenge comes from changes in farming practices. These changes have caused some populations to decrease, and in some places in Europe, the red-billed chough has disappeared altogether. However, the bird is not in danger worldwide. The name "chough" comes from an older word linked to the jackdaw, and these birds have interesting stories connected to history and places like Cornwall.

Taxonomy

The red-billed chough was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. It belongs to a group of birds called crows, and it is one of only two types in its genus. The name of its genus comes from Greek words meaning "flame-coloured" and "raven".

Traditionally, scientists thought this bird was closely related to crows and jackdaws. But newer studies show it might be more closely related to some Asian birds.

Subspecies

There are eight types of red-billed chough, though they look quite similar to each other. These types live in different areas, from the British Isles to China. Some types are smaller, while others have longer bills or different feather colours.

Etymology

The name "chough" originally described a different bird based on its call. Over time, it was used for the red-billed chough as well. An Australian bird with a similar look but different family is called the white-winged chough.

Description

The red-billed chough is a striking bird with shiny black feathers that have a green sheen. It measures about 39 to 40 centimeters (15 to 16 inches) long and has a wingspan of 73 to 90 centimeters (29 to 35 inches). These birds weigh around 310 grams (10.9 ounces) on average. They are easily recognized by their long, curved red beaks and red legs.

This bird has a loud, clear call that sounds like "chee-ow," which stands out from the calls of other similar birds. It is unlikely to be mistaken for other species, such as the jackdaw or the Alpine chough, because of its unique appearance and call.

Distribution and habitat

The red-billed chough breeds in places like Ireland, western Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Brittany, the Alps, La Palma in the Canary Islands, and across southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. It also lives in northern Arabia, northern Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and in mountainous areas of Central Asia, India, and China. There are also two separate groups in the Ethiopian Highlands. This bird stays in the same place all year.

It mainly lives in high mountains, usually between 2,000 and 2,500 metres tall. In North Africa, it is found between 2,400 and 3,000 metres, and in the Himalayas, it can go as high as 6,000 metres in the summer. In the British Isles and Brittany, it also lives on coastal sea cliffs and feeds on nearby grasslands. Sadly, it used to live in more places but has lost some of its special homes.

Behaviour and ecology

The red-billed chough starts breeding when it is three years old and usually has one group of chicks each year. These birds stay with the same partner and in the same place once they form a pair. They build big nests using plants like heather and line them with soft materials. These nests are placed in caves or on cliffs, and sometimes in old buildings or special places like monasteries.

The chough lays three to five eggs, which the female watches over for about 17 to 18 days until they hatch. Both parents help feed and care for the chicks, who can fly after about four to six weeks. Young choughs have about a 43% chance of surviving their first year, while adult choughs often live around seven years.

These birds mainly eat insects, spiders, and other small creatures they find on the ground, especially ants. They also sometimes eat plants, like fallen grains, and in some places, they may eat parts of crops. They search for food in short grass areas, using their long, curved beaks to find and dig up insects.

Predators such as peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and Eurasian eagle-owls can harm adult choughs, while common ravens may take their chicks. In some areas, red-billed choughs nest near lesser kestrel colonies, which helps protect them better from predators.

Status

The red-billed chough lives across a very large area, covering about ten million square kilometres, and has a big population. In Europe, there are between 12,265 and 17,370 pairs of these birds. Although the bird is not in danger worldwide, it has become rarer in Europe because of changes in farming and loss of nesting places.

In Spain, the red-billed chough has been spreading into old buildings. In recent years, efforts have been made to bring the bird back to places where it had disappeared, such as in South East England and Jersey, with some success.

In culture

The red-billed chough has appeared in art and stories for many years. In old times, it was linked to Cornwall and even appeared on the Cornish coat of arms. Some legends say that after his last battle, King Arthur's spirit moved into a red-billed chough. The bird's red bill and legs were said to come from the blood of his battle.

In Greek stories, the red-billed chough was thought to be a sacred bird that lived on a magical island. It has also been shown on stamps from several countries, even places where the bird does not live.