Rook - Corvus frugilegus

Description

Bare, greyish-white face, thinner beak and peaked head make it distinguishable from the Carrion Crow. Rooks are very sociable birds, and you're not likely to see one on its own. They feed and roost in flocks in winter, often together with Jackdaws.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Rooks are most usually seen in flocks in open fields, or feeding in small groups along a roadside. They will come into town parks and villages but largely keep clear of the middle of big towns and cities

When to see it

All year round

Life History

Food is predominantly earthworms and insect larvae, which the bird finds by probing the ground with its strong bill. It also eats cultivated grain and carrion. In urban sites, human food scraps are taken from rubbish dumps and streets. Nesting is always colonial, usually in the very tops of the trees.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland as a breeding bird

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Rook
Species group:
Birds
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Corvidae
Records on NatureSpot:
418
First record:
17/04/1993 (Ian Retson)
Last record:
11/05/2025 (Poole, Adam)

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% of records within its species group

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