Rook (bird)

The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the Passerine order of birds and the crow family.

They are about 45 cm, black with a blue sheen. They are distinguished from similar members of the family by their pale grey-black bill and the bare white skin around the base of the adult's bill. The juvenile is more similar to the carrion crow. They have a wide range of cries, most usually "kaw".

They are resident in Great Britain and much of north and central Europe, vagrant to Iceland and Scandinavia, and introduced in New Zealand.

Rooks are gregarious, and live in colonies of several dozen in tree-tops, and return at the start of the autumn. In early spring they begin nesting: rebuilding old ones and adding new. Egg laying commences in late March with between 3 and 5 eggs being laid.

They are omnivorous, and will dig in soft ground for invertebrates.

Image link

• Rook (http://website.lineone.net/~ssleightholm/dict/glossary/rook.jpg)