Wildlifeof China
Red-billed Chough
Crows, Drongos, Orioles & Shrikes
Photo: "Malte Uhl" · CC BY-SA 2.5
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly invertebrates on short grazed grassland, often in flocks
Habitat
Mountains and coastal cliffs; breeds in caves or crevices in cliff faces
Range
Eight subspecies from western Ireland and Britain east through southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia, India and China
Clutch size
3–5 eggs
Incubation period
Chicks fledge after 31–41 days
The red-billed chough, or Cornish chough, is a crow-family bird and one of only two species in its genus. It has glossy black plumage, a long curved red bill, red legs and a loud, ringing call. Its eight subspecies breed on mountains and coastal cliffs from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain east through southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia, India and China (Wikipedia, general species account).
It pairs for life and shows fidelity to its breeding site, which is usually a cave or crevice in a cliff face. It builds a wool-lined stick nest and lays three to five eggs; the chicks fledge after 31–41 days. It feeds, often in flocks, on short grazed grassland, taking mainly invertebrate prey, and its loud 'chee-ow' call is clearer than a jackdaw's (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Red-billed Chough eat?
- Mainly invertebrates on short grazed grassland, often in flocks
- What habitat does the Red-billed Chough live in?
- Mountains and coastal cliffs; breeds in caves or crevices in cliff faces
- Where is the Red-billed Chough found?
- Eight subspecies from western Ireland and Britain east through southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia, India and China
- How many eggs does the Red-billed Chough lay?
- 3–5 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Red-billed Chough incubated?
- Chicks fledge after 31–41 days