Chough  (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

This member of the crow family is glossy black in colour, with a long curved red bill and red legs, unique in the family. Males and females are similar in appearance, but in juveniles the bill is yellow and the plumage and legs are duller in colour than in adults (2). The most frequent call is produced on the wing, and is a descending 'chiach' (2), which may have given rise to the common name, originally pronounced 'chow' (now pronounced 'chuff') (5).

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