The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a bird of the crow family, Corvidae, in the order Passeriformes.
Quick answer
The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a sociable black crow of Europe and Asia, told from the carrion crow by the bare, greyish-white skin at the base of its bill. Rooks nest in noisy colonies called rookeries in the tops of tall trees and feed in flocks on farmland. They weigh about 340–530 g and typically live around 6 years. Rooks are listed as Least Concern.
Top questions about the Rook
Rook facts at a glance
- Weight 450 g
- Length 47 cm
- Lifespan 6 years
| Scientific name | Corvus frugilegus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore: grain, earthworms, insect larvae, seeds |
| Habitat | Farmland and grassland with clumps of tall trees |
| Size | About 47 cm long; wingspan 81–94 cm |
| Weight | 337–531 g |
| Lifespan | Typically 6 years; oldest ringed bird nearly 23 |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Corvus |
Where it lives
The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is native to Farmland across Europe and temperate Asia east to China and Korea; introduced to New Zealand. — recorded across Europe, Asia in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a rook?
An adult rook measures 47 cm long — about 27% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 450 g, about 1% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of rooks called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Rooks is called a parliament. It is also known as a building.
Baby name
A baby Rook is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
How to tell a rook
Adult rooks are glossy black with a purple sheen, a slender, pointed bill and a patch of bare, greyish-white skin around its base. Loose 'trouser' feathers on the thighs and a peaked crown also help separate them from carrion crows, which have feathered bill bases and neater legs. Young rooks have feathered faces until their first spring.
Rookeries
Rooks are colonial. Pairs build stick nests close together in the tops of tall trees, and the same rookery may be used for generations. Colonies are noisy in early spring, when birds repair nests, steal sticks from neighbours and call with a harsh 'kaah'.
Feeding in flocks
Flocks walk across fields probing for earthworms and insect larvae such as leatherjackets, and they also eat spilt grain and seeds. In winter rooks often roost communally with jackdaws, flying in at dusk in large, calling flocks.
Status
BirdLife International lists the rook as Least Concern (2025), estimating 38 to 71 million mature birds across Europe and Asia, but reports a decreasing trend. BTO ringing data give a typical life expectancy of 6 years; the oldest ringed rook lived 22 years and 11 months.
Explore the Rook
Close relatives
- Crow Same genus
- Hooded Crow Same genus
- Carrion Crow Same genus
- Common Raven Same genus
Range & geography
Did you know? Rook facts
- Rooks often roost in winter with jackdaws, flying in at dusk in large, noisy flocks.
- Young rooks have fully feathered faces until their first spring.
Conservation status of the Rook
The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Rook (Corvus frugilegus) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2025. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Rook
What is the difference between a rook and a crow?
Rooks have bare, pale skin at the base of the bill, a more peaked head and shaggy thigh feathers. Carrion crows have a fully feathered, heavier bill and a flatter crown. Rooks are usually seen in flocks; crows more often alone or in pairs.
What is a rookery?
A colony of rook nests, usually high in a group of tall trees. The word is also used for colonies of other animals, such as penguins and seals.
Are rooks intelligent?
Yes. Like other crows, rooks solve problems well; captive rooks have been shown to make and use simple tools in experiments.
How long do rooks live?
BTO ringing data give a typical life expectancy of 6 years, and the oldest ringed rook lived almost 23 years.
What is a group of rooks called?
A group of Rooks is called a parliament. It is also known as a building.
What is a baby rook called?
A baby Rook is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Rook:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Corvus frugilegus, most recently assessed in 2025.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Corvus frugilegus. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Corvus frugilegus. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
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eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Rook. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Rook Corvus frugilegus. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2025), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Corvus frugilegus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and behaviour.
- BTO BirdFacts: Rook. British Trust for Ornithology.
Typical lifespan, oldest ringed bird and UK body weight.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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