Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
The Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is a uncommon crows, jays, and magpi found in 40 countries, weighing about 277 g. The red-billed chough, Cornish chough or simply chough is a bird in the crow family, one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax.
About the Red-billed Chough
The red-billed chough, Cornish chough or simply chough is a bird in the crow family, one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax. Its eight subspecies breed on mountains and coastal cliffs from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain east through southern Europe, North Africa and Middle East to Central Asia, India and China.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult of the "nominate" subspecies of the red-billed chough, P. p. pyrrhocorax, is 39–40 centimetres (15–16 inches) in length, has a 73–90 centimetres (29–35 inches) wingspan, and weighs an average 310 grammes (10.9 oz). Its plumage is velvet-black, green-glossed on the body, and it has a long curved red bill and red legs. The sexes are similar (although adults can be sexed in the hand using a formula involving tarsus length and bill width) but the juvenile has an orange bill and pink legs until its first autumn, and less glossy plumage.
What the Red-billed Chough sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Taiwan, Austria, Tunisia.
When to see it
The Red-billed Chough can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-billed Chough?
- The adult of the "nominate" subspecies of the red-billed chough, P. p. pyrrhocorax, is 39–40 centimetres (15–16 inches) in length, has a 73–90 centimetres (29–35 inches) wingspan, and weighs an average 310 grammes (10.9 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-billed Chough?
- The Red-billed Chough is a medium sized bird weighing about 277 g.
- Where can you see a Red-billed Chough?
- The Red-billed Chough occurs in 40 countries, including Spain, France, the United Kingdom, India and Ireland.
- What does a Red-billed Chough sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Red-billed Chough on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Red-billed Chough?
- The Red-billed Chough is most easily confused with the Alpine Chough.
- Is the Red-billed Chough endangered?
- The Red-billed Chough is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-billed Chough for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.