Rook

    Corvus frugilegus

Castilian: Graja

Catalan: Graula

Gallego: Gralla grande

Euskera: Ipar-belea

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Corvidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Vulnerable”.

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THREATS

There are very few pairs and they are threatened by agricultural intensification, pesticides and the loss of large trees due to the cutting down of poplar groves where they normally make their nests.

Length / size: 41-77 cm / 81-94 cm

Identification: Medium-sized crow with black plumage and bright iridescent parts. It can be distinguished by the bare greyish part of its face around its long and pointy bill.

Song: It is gregarious and very noisy. It primarily makes cawing noises, "giaah" and sequences derived from that sound, "grah-grah-grah".

Diet: It feeds on all kinds of invertebrates, in addition to seeds, fruits, scraps, and occasionally small vertebrates.

Reproduction: They form colonies that can reach hundreds of pairs. In February they locate their nest in a very high area and build it using branches, roots and wool. The female performs incubation and, later, both the male and female participate in feeding the chicks.

HABITAT

It occupies open areas, with a preference for farming areas near rivers with tall trees.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is only present in the central and southeastern parts of the province of León.

In Castile and León: It is concentrated around León and La Bañeza. It is located between the city of León, the River Esla, the River Órbigo, and the Páramo region in the centre.

Movements and migrations: The Iberian population is considered sedentary, but the European populations primarily winter in Turkey, Greece and France.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 2000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 2000 breeding pairs.