Difference between revisions of "Rook (bird)" - New World Encyclopedia
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Like other members of the Corvidae family ([[jay]]s, [[magpie]]s, [[treepie]]s and [[nutcracker (bird)|nutcrackers]]), members of the ''Corvus'' genus are characterized by strong feet and bills, feathered, rounded [[nostril]]s, strong tails and wings, rictal bristles, and a single [[molt]] each year (most [[passerine]]s molt twice). The genus ''Corvus'', including the [[crow]]s, [[raven]]s, rooks, and [[jackdaw]]s (two species, ''C. dauricus'' and ''C. monedula''), makes up over a third of the entire family. | Like other members of the Corvidae family ([[jay]]s, [[magpie]]s, [[treepie]]s and [[nutcracker (bird)|nutcrackers]]), members of the ''Corvus'' genus are characterized by strong feet and bills, feathered, rounded [[nostril]]s, strong tails and wings, rictal bristles, and a single [[molt]] each year (most [[passerine]]s molt twice). The genus ''Corvus'', including the [[crow]]s, [[raven]]s, rooks, and [[jackdaw]]s (two species, ''C. dauricus'' and ''C. monedula''), makes up over a third of the entire family. | ||
| − | The rook received its scientific name from [[Linnaeus]] in 1758. The species name ''frugilegus'' is [[Latin]] for "food-gathering." | + | The rook received its scientific name, ''Corvus frugilegus'', from [[Linnaeus]] in 1758. The species name ''frugilegus'' is [[Latin]] for "food-gathering." |
| − | + | The adult rook ranges in size from about 45 to 47 centimeters (17.7 to 18.5 inches), making it similar in size or slightly smaller than the [[carrion crow]]. It ranges in weight from about 337 to 531 grams (11.8 to 18.58 ounces) (Grzimek et al. 2004). | |
| − | Rooks are distinguished from similar members of the crow family by the bare | + | Like typically for the crow and raven, the rook is characterized by an entire black plumage. Often the rook's plumage is highly glossed and with a metallic blue, purple, or green sheen in bright sunlight (Grzimek et al. 2004). The feathers on the head, neck and shoulders are particularly dense and silky. The legs and feet also are black. |
| + | |||
| + | The base of the adult's bill, loral region, and chin are bare (Grzimek et al. 2004). The bill of the adult is gray-black, tending to be whitish at the base and shading to gray-black or dusky over the terminal half (Grzimek et al. 2004). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Rooks are distinguished from similar members of the crow family by the bare gray-white skin around the base of the adult's bill in front of the eyes. The feathering around the legs also look shaggier and laxer than the congeneric carrion crow. The juvenile rook is superficially more similar to the crow because it lacks the bare patch at the base of the bill, but it loses the facial feathers after about six months. | ||
==Distribution and habitat== | ==Distribution and habitat== | ||
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{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=51156|title=Corvus frugilegus|downloaded=[[09 May]] [[2006]]}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern | * {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=51156|title=Corvus frugilegus|downloaded=[[09 May]] [[2006]]}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern | ||
| + | |||
| + | Grzimek et al. 2004 | ||
*''Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' Volume VIII: Crows to Finches Chief Editor: the late Stanley Cramp, Edited by C. M. Perrins ISBN 0-19-854679-3 | *''Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' Volume VIII: Crows to Finches Chief Editor: the late Stanley Cramp, Edited by C. M. Perrins ISBN 0-19-854679-3 | ||
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 Rook range
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Rook is the common name for members of the Old World bird species Corvus frugilegus of the crow family (Corvidae), characterized by black feathers (often with a glossy blue or bluish-purple sheen), dense and silky feathers on the head and neck, black legs and feet, and a bare gray-white skin around the base of the bill in front of the eyes. The rook is widely distributed in Europe and Asia. Similar in appearance to the crow and raven of the same genus, the rook nests in colonies, usually near the tops of trees.
Like many other members of the Corvidae family and Corvus genus, the rook features prominently in folklore. Traditionally, rooks are said to be able to forecast weather and to sense the approach of death. If a rookery— the colonial nesting area of rooks— were abandoned, it was said to bring bad fortune for the family that owned the land. Another folk-tale holds that rooks are responsible for escorting the souls of the virtuous dead to heaven (EZ 2006).
Overview and description
Like other members of the Corvidae family (jays, magpies, treepies and nutcrackers), members of the Corvus genus are characterized by strong feet and bills, feathered, rounded nostrils, strong tails and wings, rictal bristles, and a single molt each year (most passerines molt twice). The genus Corvus, including the crows, ravens, rooks, and jackdaws (two species, C. dauricus and C. monedula), makes up over a third of the entire family.
The rook received its scientific name, Corvus frugilegus, from Linnaeus in 1758. The species name frugilegus is Latin for "food-gathering."
The adult rook ranges in size from about 45 to 47 centimeters (17.7 to 18.5 inches), making it similar in size or slightly smaller than the carrion crow. It ranges in weight from about 337 to 531 grams (11.8 to 18.58 ounces) (Grzimek et al. 2004).
Like typically for the crow and raven, the rook is characterized by an entire black plumage. Often the rook's plumage is highly glossed and with a metallic blue, purple, or green sheen in bright sunlight (Grzimek et al. 2004). The feathers on the head, neck and shoulders are particularly dense and silky. The legs and feet also are black.
The base of the adult's bill, loral region, and chin are bare (Grzimek et al. 2004). The bill of the adult is gray-black, tending to be whitish at the base and shading to gray-black or dusky over the terminal half (Grzimek et al. 2004).
Rooks are distinguished from similar members of the crow family by the bare gray-white skin around the base of the adult's bill in front of the eyes. The feathering around the legs also look shaggier and laxer than the congeneric carrion crow. The juvenile rook is superficially more similar to the crow because it lacks the bare patch at the base of the bill, but it loses the facial feathers after about six months.
Distribution and habitat
Though resident in Great Britain and much of north and central Europe, vagrant to Iceland and northern Scandinavia, it also occurs as an eastern race in Asia where it differs in being very slightly smaller on average, and having a somewhat more fully feathered face. In the north of its range the species has a tendency to move south during autumn though more southern populations are apt to range sporadically also. The species has been introduced to New Zealand, with several hundred birds being released there from 1862-1874, though today their range is very localised.[1] Here the species is an agricultural pest and it is being eradicated.
Behaviour
Diet
Food is predominantly earthworms and insect larvae, which the bird finds by probing the ground with its strong bill. It also eats cultivated cereal grain, smaller amounts of fruit, small mammals such as voles, acorns and the eggs of ground-nesting birds. In urban sites, human food scraps are taken from rubbish dumps and streets, usually in the early hours when it is relatively quiet. It has also been seen along the seashore, feeding on insects, crustaceans and suitable food flotsam.
Nesting
Nesting is always colonial, usually in the very tops of the trees. Branches and twigs are broken off trees (very rarely picked up off the ground), though as many are likely to be stolen from nearby nests as are collected from trees. Eggs are usually 3–5 in number, can appear by the end of February or early March and are incubated for 16–18 days. Both adults feed the young, which are fledged by the 32nd or 33rd day.
In autumn, the young birds of the summer collect together with unpaired birds of previous seasons into large flocks. It is during the autumn that spectacular aerial displays can be seen by adult birds that seem to delight in the autumn gales.
Voice
The voice, though similar to that of the Carrion Crow, is usually described as a "kaah-kaah-kaah" while the bird fans its tail and bows on each caw. Solitary birds often "sing" apparently to themselves uttering strange clicks, wheezes and almost human sounding notes.
Gallery
The Rook
- Rooks-Gdańsk Polanki-Poland.jpg
A Rook on Dartmoor
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ Barrie Heather and Hugh Robertson, "The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand", Viking, 2005
- BirdLife International 2004. [1]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species., World Conservation Union. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Grzimek et al. 2004
- Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic Volume VIII: Crows to Finches Chief Editor: the late Stanley Cramp, Edited by C. M. Perrins ISBN 0-19-854679-3
- Crows and Jays by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7136-3999-7
- Debout G 2003. Le carbeau freux (Corvus frugilegus) nicheur en Normandie: recensement 1999 & 2000. Cormoran, 13, 115-121.
,[1]
Horror/Scary: April 26, 2006 Issue [#996]Writers / Writer / Creative Writing
Horry/Scary archives: Magpies, Ravens, Crows, Rooks
eZine
Magpies, Ravens, Crows, Rooks
Sound link
Image links
Video links
- Rook videos on the Internet Bird Collection
Template:Heraldic creatures
Credits
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- ↑ (Latin) Linnaeus, C (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.. Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii)., 824.
