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Latin name

Corvus frugilegus

Family

Crows and allies (Corvidae)

Overview

Bare, greyish-white face, thinner beak and peaked head make it distinguishable from the carrion crow. Rooks are very sociable birds, and you're not likely to see one on its own. They feed and roost in flocks in winter, often together with jackdaws.

Where to see them

Rooks are most usually seen in flocks in open fields, or feeding in small groups along a roadside. They will come into town parks and villages but largely keep clear of the middle of big towns and cities. They are absent from the far north west of Scotland.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Worms, grain and insects

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

• Videos

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

2 illustrations 12

Rook

Rook - juvenile

Similar birds

Carrion crow

Jackdaw