Resident Birds of the Sea, Seashore 

 and Cliffs 



CHOUGH (Pyrrhocorax graculus). 



Extremely local, and probably a decreasing species. 

 Found most frequently in Cornwall, North Devon, 

 Lundy Island, West Wales, Channel Islands, and West 

 of Ireland. 



Haunts. Wild and rugged sea-cliffs. 



Plumage. Black, with purple and green reflections. 

 Bill orange-vermilion and arched. Legs orange-vermilion. 

 Length 16 in. Female, slightly smaller. Young, beak and 

 legs dull orange colour. 



Language. It utters a note like " chough," reminding 

 one of the Jackdaw. Another cry, a clear metallic 

 " kling." 



Habits. Gregarious, and always nesting in communi- 

 ties, like the Jackdaw. It flies in a series of curves, at 

 intervals closing its pinions and dropping towards the 

 ground, then rising again. It both walks and hops on 

 the ground. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, worms, marine 

 mollusca, and refuse left by the receding tide. Also 

 berries and grain. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. In hole or cleft in the cliffs, in ruins, and the 

 like, and generally inaccessible. 



Materials. Sticks, twigs, sprigs of heather, &c., lined 

 with dry grass, roots, fur, wool, and hair. 



Eggs. Three to six. Greenish white, spotted, blotched 

 and streaked more or less with varying shades of brown 

 and grey. Rather variable. 



