# Rook (*Corvus frugilegus*) Rooks are clever birds with shiny black feathers and a distinctive ragged-looking throat. They are known for their playful nature and can often be seen in groups, making lots of noise while they play and search for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Grasslands - **Also known as:** Common Rook, Rook Corvid ![Rook](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426469/objects/594.jpg) ## Appearance The Rook is a glossy black bird with a distinctive purple-blue sheen to its feathers. Adults have a unique pale, bare patch of skin at the base of their beak, making them different from similar crows. They also have shaggy feathers around their legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Corvus ## Interesting facts - Huge flocks of Rooks gathering are called a 'parliament'! - Rook parents reuse their nests year after year, adding to them! - Rooks can drop nuts from high up to smash them open! - They sometimes steal shiny objects and hide them in their nests! ## Special abilities - **Tool Master:** Rook can use sticks as tools because of their clever minds, helping them extract food from tight spots. - **Puzzle Solver:** Rook has excellent problem-solving skills that help them figure out complex ways to access hidden food. - **Face Reader:** Rook can recognize individual human faces that helps them remember who is kind or a threat. - **Quick Learner:** Rook can learn new behaviors by watching others because of their social intelligence, helping them adapt. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-47 cm - **Wingspan:** 81-99 cm - **Weight:** 0.35-0.55 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 16-18 days ## Diet & Feeding Rooks are omnivores that eat insects, seeds, worms, and even some small animals. - **Age differences:** Young chicks are fed insects; adults have a broader diet. - **Primary Foods:** Earthworms, Grubs, Grain, Seeds, Small Mammals - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Primary food source, dug from soil. - **Eats:** Common Wheat (*Triticum aestivum*) — Feeds on grains from agricultural fields. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — Adult Rooks are sometimes hunted by this large owl. - **Depends on:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — Often builds large nests high in branches of oak trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Rooks are usually friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rook? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Rook? 45-47 cm ### What is Rook's wingspan? 81-99 cm ### How much does Rook weigh? 0.35-0.55 kg ### How long does Rook live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Rook move? 60 km/h ### What does Rook eat? Rooks are omnivores that eat insects, seeds, worms, and even some small animals. ### Where is Rook usually found? Urban areas, Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Colchester Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colchester-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Warszawski Ogród Zoologiczny](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/warszawski-ogr-d-zoologiczny) — Masovian Voivodeship, PL · Zoo - [Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-butterfly-and-nature-conservatory) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Zoologická zahrada města Brna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-m-sta-brna) — South Moravian Region, CZ · Zoo - [Schlosspark Moers und Wallanlagen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/schlosspark-moers-und-wallanlagen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park [View all places to see Rook](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rook) ## Watch - [Play video: Rook](https://www.snappit.app/videos/rook) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=DV5gncvGCa0) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Rook: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rook)