Chough

The chough is a medium‑sized bird belonging to the crow family (Corvidae). Two species are recognized: the Northern chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and the Southern chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). Both are known for their distinctive red beak and legs and black body with a pale crescent on the back.

The species are found in mountainous and rocky habitats across Europe, western and central Asia, and parts of North Africa. The Northern chough is common in the western Alps and the British Isles, while the Southern chough occupies the southern Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees, and the Caucasus.

Choughs feed mainly on insects, worms, and small vertebrates, but they also scavenge carrion. Their foraging style includes probing loose stones and ground litter near cliffs. They are highly social outside the breeding season and often form large, noisy flocks.

Breeding takes place on cliff ledges or stone walls. The pair builds a shallow nest of twigs and moss, lining it with fur or animal hair. Egg laying generally occurs from late February to mid‑April, producing two to four altricial chicks that fledge after approximately 30 days.

In many countries the Northern chough is listed as a species of least concern, whereas the Southern chough has a declining population and is classified as endangered in parts of its range. Major threats include loss of nesting sites, disturbance, and climate‑related changes to alpine ecosystems.

The chough has featured in folklore and literature, symbolizing winter in some European traditions. It is also mentioned in ecological studies as a bioindicator of mountain habitat health.