Monday, 3 October 2011

Rook or Crow?

I see many of these birds around parkland where I do my voluntary work.  Is it a rook or a crow?  I have heard this saying:
'a crow in a crowd is a rook, a rook on its own is a crow'

Do you know if there is any truth in this saying and how do you tell them apart?

Edited: I now believe the bird above is a crow after going to the RSPB website and listening to the audio of the sound they make. 

6 comments:

  1. That saying used to be true but in the last few years that has been changing and I have seen many Carrion Crows congregating in the way that one would expect Rooks to do. The way to tell the difference is that C. Crow has a black beak and Rook has a lighter beak with bits of white/grey in it. Jackdaws, however, have light eyes. ;-)

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  2. I always tell the difference because a rook has trousers, more feathers at the top of his legs.
    Briony
    x

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  3. I think crows are about the size of a pidgeon, rooks are bigger birds. I think!!
    Vivienne x

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  4. I see from your edit that you have identified the bird, Simone. I'm never sure which is which. We have two very noisy crows in the trees at the back of our garden - they usually call with three or four loud caws each - I expect they are warning each other off their territory:)

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  5. Hi Simone,
    I hadn't heard that saying before but it sounds true.If I am close enough I tell them apart because rooks have a sort of bald grey patch on their face where the beak starts almost as if the beak continues into their face.
    I love the big chap in the photo below and just can't believe how dry the ground is at the vineyard!x

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