https://www.seo.org/ave/chova-piquirroja/
chough
(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
Inhabitant of river gorges, altimontanas the steep walls of the mountain crags, cliffs and coastal generally of the most rugged and rough spots, the Chough is an acrobat and quite gregarious bird which feeds -a Unlike other corvids mainly invertebrate. prevalent in many areas of our territory yore, agricultural intensification, use of pesticides and loss of nesting sites have appreciably reduced their populations.
Description
Classification
Passeriformes order; family Corvidae
Length
37-41 cm
Wingspan
68-80 cm
ID
This corvid medium-from slightly larger than a grajilla- has a strong resemblance to its close relative the Alpine chough, which basically differs by having the most elongated, curved beak, with an intense red coloration. This vivid color is acquired during the first winter of life of the bird, because in young people is yellow-brownish hue. As is usual in the family, the plumage is intensely black, decorated with blue and greenish metallic iridescence (Figure 1). Gregarious and noisy birds, usually organized in crowded camps that fly over gullies cut and while performing aerobatic maneuvers and chopped. During these flights show off their characteristic silhouette, which highlights a broad and deeply fingered wings. The tail is short and quadrangular (Figure 2).
Singing
When moving into sides, this corvid often emits a characteristic often -penetrante and metálico- claim, which could be transcribed as quíak.The rest of the vocalizations that consist mainly produces sound in shunts already described, as chiia, cheew, etc.
Where do you live
In the world
It is distributed throughout Europe and Asia to Mongolia, as well as northern and eastern Africa, although their rocosas-, closely dependent populations are fragmented formations. It lives in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean region, with some towns in central France and cliffs areas of Brittany, Ireland and Scotland. Up to eight subspecies are recognized.
In Spain
In our country, this beautiful corvid is distributed fairly widely, although it is more common in mountainous areas and streams of the great mountain ranges and coastal areas of the Atlantic coastal cliffs, Cantabrian and Levantine. In general, small towns or isolated couples in almost all provinces appear, although the species is scarce in large cultivated plateaus and depressions. No breeding Baleares although it appears occasionally-or Ceuta and Melilla, but in Canarias (in La Palma currently only, after disappearing in Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro), where barbarus subspecies is found. On the Peninsula, meanwhile, erythrorhamphus subspecies inhabits.
displacements
The species is listed as sedentary throughout its range, and although some of their habits dispersive known, it is known that performs some altitudinal movements, at least in places where the climate is more rigorous.
Poblaciónón
Spain has the largest breeding population of chough in Europe, which totaled about 20,000 pairs to the mainland, while the canary quota is estimated at approximately 1,500 copies. Europe's population is estimated at about 16,000 to 72,000 breeding pairs, data reflecting some recovery after the sharp declines in recent decades, which resulted in the loss of 20% of the population. With regard to Spain, the evolution seems positive-an increase of 5% a year, according to data obtained by the SACRE program for the period 1998-2005.
Threats and Conservation
The main threat to this species comes from the transformation of feeding habitat due to agricultural intensification and the gradual disappearance of ranching. Loss of nesting sites and direct persecution are also a source of threat that particularly affects isolated pairs and small groups. Uncontrolled tourism, climbing and caving can be dangerous in certain areas of breeding and roosting. The two subspecies present in our territory are included in the Red Book of Birds of Spain. The erythrorhamphus subspecies is listed as "near threatened" while barbarus, which has a greater degree of threat is considered "at risk."
