Photo: Jim Higham from UK / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Alpine Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus
Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 211 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Corvidae Crows, Jays
- Genus Pyrrhocorax
- Species graculus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 211 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Alpine Chough is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Alpine Chough is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) is a species of bird in the Corvidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s, sc, also n Africa.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 211 g, with a wing length of about 26.7 cm and a tail of around 16.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Alpine Chough?
The Alpine Chough is a large bird that weighs around 211 g.
Where does the Alpine Chough live?
The Alpine Chough is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s, sc, also n Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Alpine Chough belong to?
The Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Alpine Chough eat?
The Alpine Chough is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Alpine Chough migrate?
The Alpine Chough is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Alpine Chough endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Alpine Chough make?
1 real field recording of the Alpine Chough — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Alpine Chough's range?
The Alpine Chough has a mapped global range of about 3.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Corvidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Corvids
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Guides for this bird
Best Feeders for Jays & Larger Garden Birds
How to choose a feeder for jays and other big, bold garden birds — the styles that suit peanuts and larger food, and how to keep them from crowding your small-bird feeders. A decision framework with the species in the Birbs encyclopedia.