Chough

The chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) looks similar to the crow, but is distinguished by its unmistakable red legs and feet and curved red bill. It is only seen in coastal and mountainous areas, and, within the British Isles, generally only in west Wales, western Ireland, south-west Scotland and the Isle of Man. It was formerly common in Cornwall, and indeed features prominently on the coat of arms of Cornwall, but had all but disappeared by the 1950s. Recently, it has returned to parts of Cornwall.

Within the established breeding areas sightings are by no means unusual, as choughs tend to congregate in groups, either on cliff tops or high in the mountains of Snowdonia, for example, where they will stay even in winter. Despite the chough’s liking of coastal habitats it is not a sea bird, and fish is not part of its diet. However, they may sometimes be seen on the upper parts of beaches, turning over old seaweed to search for insects.


Appearance and behaviour

Choughs are up to 38 centimetres (15 inches) in length, which makes them larger than jackdaws but smaller than crows or rooks. The plumage, which is similar in males and females, is glossy blue-back, with a greenish sheen on the wings and tail. The wings are broad, and in flight they are curved upwards with the ends outspread, which gives them a somewhat ragged look. The flight is strong and acrobatic, including soaring and gliding, and sometimes diving with the wings almost closed. On the ground, choughs will run, walk or hop.


Breeding

Choughs are monogamous, with pairs tending to stay together both in and out of the breeding season, even as part of larger colonies. Nests are built in late April or May, in the rocky crevices of cliffs, caves or quarries, or on old stone buildings such as castle ruins or church steeples. Nests comprise twigs, roots, and softer lining material such as wool and hair. The same nest may be used another year, but with a fresh lining.

The clutch is usually three to six eggs, laid at intervals of between one and three days, which are incubated solely by the female bird for up to 21 days. At first only the male chough brings food to the nest, but later both parents do so. The food is insects and larvae, regurgitated by the parent bird. Observers have noted that choughs are sparing in their parental duties in that they only make around seven foraging expeditions apiece each day. Only one brood is raised each season.

The young fledge at around 35 days but stay close at hand for some time longer, returning to the nest to roost at night for as much as two months after fledging. After this they tend to form flocks with other young birds and may roam with the flock several miles from their birthplace. Mortality is quite high among young choughs, with many perishing within the first six months. They will only reach breeding age themselves at two to four years.


Conservation

The chough is a protected species in the United Kingdom and is regarded as having “amber” conservation status. The main threat to choughs today is farming methods that have removed many of the chough’s preferred feeding areas. The bird uses its curved bill to dig into the turf to find insects and larvae just under the surface. This was traditionally helped by cliff top grazing that kept the grass short and left animal dung that in turn provided insect habitats. However, with more intensive farming methods the grass has been allowed to grow longer and has thus prevented choughs from digging underneath it. Even treating cattle with anti-parasitic drugs can affect choughs, as the droppings will no longer contain a ready food source for the birds.

The chough is one of many fascinating bird species that are endangered by practices that might be beneficial from one perspective but not others. By careful management of the natural environment in ways that benefit humans and birds alike, future generations will be able to continue seeing the red-footed birds of the cliff tops and mountain slopes.

© John Welford