Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Scientific name definitions

38–41 cm; 207–375 g. A medium-sized, relatively small-headed and short-legged corvid with comparatively long, slim and gently decurved bill with tip of upper mandible slightly overlapping lower; in flight, rather broad wings prominently "fingered", distinctly buoyant and bounding flight often interspersed with tumbling, swooping and diving, or simply soaring and gliding. Nominate race has entire body plumage glossy blue-black, glossed greenish on wings and tail; iris dark brown; bill scarlet; legs bright red. Sexes similar. Juvenile has plumage (when recently fledged) duller, less glossy, black than adult's, bill shorter and initially dull orange, becoming red by first autumn, legs dusky to pinkish, becoming red by first autumn. Races differ mainly in intensity of plumage gloss and overall size, coastal races generally smaller than mountain forms, nominate smallest: <em>erythroramphos</em> is very close to nominate, but slightly larger and with greener gloss, although birds in NW France (Brittany) somewhat intermediate; <em>barbarus</em> is largest of W races, with greenest gloss and strongest and longest bill ; baileyi is as large as previous, but has weaker bill and almost unglossed plumage, is also relatively short-tailed (primary tips projecting beyond tail tip when on ground); docilis is similarly large, but has weaker, shorter bill and whole plumage washed (rather than glossed) with green; <em>himalayanus</em> is largest race, glossed blue or bluish-purple (rather than green), is also relatively longer-tailed than most of others; centralis has even longer tail, but is smaller, and has only weak bluish plumage gloss; brachypus has very weak purplish gloss and relatively the shortest bill of all races.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Occupies two habitat zones: coastal cliffs in W Europe, and high mountain pastures with rocky crags elsewhere. Coastal populations (Ireland, Britain, Brittany, Canaries, NW Spain) favour sea cliffs with rocky crags, interspersed with closely grazed grassland. Inland populations found in high mountain pastures above tree-line, in Europe favouring sheep-grazed slopes, farther E also associated with grazing yaks (Bos grunniens) and ponies. In Atlas Mts of N Africa most numerous between 2000 m and 2500; in Himalayas favours range 2400–3000 m, but ascends to 6000 m in summer and reported as high as 7950 m on Mt Everest. Less directly human-orientated than is P. graculus, but attends grazing stock and is sometimes attracted to human habitation for nest-sites; forages in grassy areas within towns, often nests in buildings in use (Bhutan and Tibet), even on modern buildings in heart of some cities (Ulaanbaatar, in Mongolia).

Basically sedentary. Ringing studies in Britain suggest that young disperse over short distances, rarely more than 10 km from natal site; exceptional movements recorded, the longest an individual which moved from Bardsey (off NW Wales) to Liverpool, a distance of 142 km, and another of 150 km within Wales. Unringed vagrants have turned up on Orkney, 360 km from nearest breeding sites, and E England (210 km). A succession of vagrants in Cornwall since 1986 resulted in tiny breeding toehold being established, heralding the first nesting in England for nearly 50 years. Two records of vagrants in Germany since 1977, and others reported from Slovakia, Hungary, Balearic Is and Israel. European inland populations move little, apart from leaving higher elevations after heavy snowfall; in N Spain may descend from mountains to coast during such conditions. Those in Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and W China likewise make altitudinal movements following adverse winter weather.

Primarily insectivorous, almost entirely so in spring and summer. Larvae of craneflies (Tipulidae) important, along with small beetles (Coleoptera), caterpillars (Lepidoptera) and ants (Formicidae); wide variety of other invertebrates identified as food items, including woodlice (Isopoda), harvestmen (Opiliones), fly larvae (Diptera), spiders (Araneae), grasshoppers (Orthoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), earthworms (Lumbricidae), and sometimes even scorpions (Scorpiones); rarely, small vertebrates such as lizards (Lacertidae), a mouse (Mus) and a shrew (Soricidae), and exceptionally carrion recorded. In autumn and winter, when invertebrate food more difficult to find, takes grain, seeds and small berries, including those of rowan (Sorbus), pear (Pyrus), juniper (Juniperus), sea-buckthorn (Hippophae) and olive (Olea). Food-hiding reported in captivity. Forages on ground in open country , typically in pairs or family parties, but large assemblies (reaching 200 or more individuals) form as groups of non-breeders merge into noisy social gatherings. On ground, hops, walks and runs between bouts of probing or vigorous digging; digging accompanied by wing-flicking and tail-flicking (a good fieldmark, even at distance). In winter especially, forages along tideline, probing seaweed piles for fly larvae and digging in sand for sandhoppers (Talitridae); may dig quite deep pits, tossing soft sand aside and over its back in the process. Reported as standing on backs of domestic animals to search for parasites. Perches on craggy outcrops, walls and buildings, but not on trees or wires. Has been reported as clumsily flapping in foliage of fruiting trees on occasions, and exceptionally as flapping about to perch on flowerheads of artichokes (Cynara). On La Palma (Canary Is), seen to take advantage of caterpillar swarm, flapping amid foliage of pine trees (Pinus) and even clinging on trunk to pick food items from bark fissures. Turns over dung and small stones in search of invertebrates; can turn relatively larger stones by reaching forwards and pulling back with stone against chest.

Typical call a wheezy, hoarse "chaw" or a fading "ch'waa", delivered with explosive quality; very similar to call of juvenile Corvus monedula but less flat in tone. Several other calls basically variations on this theme, but alarm a more distinctive harsh, screeched scolding "ker ker ker" or single "karr". Soft, low warbling and chittering sounds reported as uttered by pair-members when relaxing together. Ethiopian race baileyi (at least in Bale Mts) seems to lack typical "chaw" of other races, and to be relatively more quiet; calls squeakier, and include trilled, watery "rheeep" and short, weak and rather dry "ka", thus vocally closer to P. graculus than to other races of present species.

Laying mainly middle to late Apr in Britain and Ireland, early May in S France, and late Apr to May in W China and Caucasus; single-brooded, exceptionally two broods in a season; some pairs "skip" a breeding season. Monogamous, generally with lifelong pair-bond, partners remaining together throughout year; first-year and second-year pairings can be short-term until preferred partner located. Solitary nester, but in areas of high population density (as in parts of W China) forms loose colonies; average inter-nest distance in Britain 1·4 km. Occasionally a helper (probably young of previous brood) assists at nest. Nest, usually instigated by male, but finished by female, a mass of sticks, thickly lined with wool, rarely all wool, built typically in roof of cave or rock chimney , or disused quarry, but equally in roof space of disused building, old mine shaft or similar site, also in roof space of inhabited house, monastery or dzong; rarely, may excavate hole or cavity up to 1 m in depth in soft sandstone cliff. Clutch usually 4 eggs, rarely up to 6; incubation by female alone, fed on nest by male, period 17–21 days; chicks fed by both parents, occasionally also by a helper, nestling period 36–41 days; young remain in family group for up to 50 days after fledging; in late autumn families gather into flocks to prepare for winter foraging, or communal roosting. Rarely, nest parasitized by Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius).  Proportion of non-breeders in different popuations of the British Is and Spain, c. 30%, but 60% in the isolated population of La Palma, Canary Is (1 Blanco, G., Pais, J.L., Fargallo, J.A., Potti, J., Lemus, J.A. and Dávila, J.A. (2009). High proportion of non breeding individuals in an isolated red-billed chough population on an oceanic island (La Palma, Canary Islands). Ardeola. 56(2): 229–239. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common. In much of its wide range there is evidence of a decline in numbers, most evidently in Europe, where populations have become very fragmented. Changes in grazing regimes undoubtedly the most important factor in its demise. In former times grazing animals roamed freely over mountain slopes and coastal cliffs, keeping vegetation short and ideal for invertebrates (essential in diet of young). Populations have become very fragmented in the Alps, where extinct in Austria by end of 19th century, but an isolated population of c. 50 pairs near Valais, in Swiss Alps, with similar numbers in W Italian and French Alps; has disappeared from C & E Italian Alps, but a few hundred pairs breed in Apennines and Sicily, with very small population on Sardinia. In NW France, had disappeared from Normandy by 1910, but c. 30 pairs survive in Brittany (chiefly on island of Ouessant). Following a long decline, which resulted in loss of entire English and most of Scottish populations, this species now doing well in Britain and Ireland, with c. 1000 pairs, with local increases perhaps most marked on I of Man, and has started to recolonize Cornwall, where three pairs nested in 2008 (the only ones in England); part of the recovery of British choughs due to a programme of rough grazing along coastal slopes and the erection of nestboxes in suitable caves or old buildings. Spain, with 8000 or so pairs, has one of highest populations in Europe, with some local increases since 1970s; in adjacent Portugal just over 100 pairs at five sites; on La Palma (Canary Is) c. 300 pairs. In NW Africa, quite numerous in Morocco, less so in Algeria, and extinct in Tunisia (last nested in late 1800s). In E Europe, at least 3000 pairs in Croatia, an unknown small number in Albania and at least 1500 pairs in Greece, majority on Crete. Widespread in mountains of E Turkey, and probably so in adjacent N Iraq. After absence of records for several decades, has recently been rediscovered in Lebanon and C Syria (Palmyra). Numerous through Caucasus and in Elburz Mts of N Iran, as it seems to be also throughout remaining Asiatic part of range, but disappearance of an isolated population in Urals in 19th century also suggests a contraction (if the species' presence there was undoubted). Isolated populations in highlands of Ethiopia relatively few in number, at least in Bale Mts, where fires have burnt extensive tracts of the tundra-like landscape.