Photo: Kim Hyun-tae / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rook
Corvus frugilegus
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) — Crows, Jays & Magpies of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the Corvidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 452 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 Corvus
- Species frugilegus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 452 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Corvidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rook is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rook is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) belongs to the Corvidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 452 g, with a wing length of about 31.2 cm and a tail of around 16.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 19 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rook?
The Rook is a large bird that weighs around 452 g.
Where does the Rook live?
The Rook is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rook belong to?
The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) belongs to the Corvidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rook eat?
The Rook is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rook migrate?
The Rook is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rook 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 Rook make?
1 real field recording of the Rook — 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 Rook's range?
The Rook has a mapped global range of about 19 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.
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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.