• Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino
  • Trino

Red-billed chough

    Red-billed chough

    Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax


Castilian: Chova piquirroja

Catalan: Gralla de bec vermell

Gallego: Choia

Euskera: Belatxinga mokogorria


CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Corvidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident


CONSERVATION STATUS:

(QUÉ SUBESPECIE DEJO?)In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) the erythrorhamphus subspecies is listed as “Near Threatened” and the barbarus subspecies as “Endangered”.

  •  

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song


THREATS

The loss of nesting places, attempts at extermination, unrestricted tourism, and the transformation of its feeding habitat represent the primary threats.


Length / size: 37-41 cm / 68-80 cm

Identification: Medium-sized crow with bright black plumage (it presents blue iridescence). It is characterised by its long, curved, red bill. Its legs are also red, although in juveniles they are yellowish and this bird can therefore be confused with the yellow-billed chough. It is easily visible in noisy groups.

Song: In flight it frequently makes a "kweeaaak" with different variations.

Diet: It primarily feeds on invertebrates that it catches in rocky cracks, using its curved bill. In winter it increases its consumption of seeds and fruits.

Reproduction: The reproductive cycle includes a spectacular acrobatic courtship. They place the nest in cracks, naturally forming breeding colonies. The construction is very basic and does not call attention. The female incubates the eggs, while both adults care for the chicks.


HABITAT

It occupies rocky walls where it takes refuge on ledges of coastal cliffs, mountains and even very large buildings in urban areas.


DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is common in high mountainous areas in almost all provinces and in the coastal cliffs on the Atlantic, Cantabrian, and Levante coastlines.

In Castile and León: Abundant in the Cantabrian Mountains, the Iberian and Central Systems, and in the canyons of the Riaza and Duratón ravines in Segovia. The largest populations are found in Burgos, León and Segovia, and it is rarer in Zamora, Salamanca and Valladolid.

Movements and migrations: It is a resident species that moves between altitudes.


POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 20000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 3300-6200 breeding pairs.