Races:
Corvus frugilegus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758
Corvus frugilegus pastinator Gould, 1845

Synonyms

Description

Abundant breeding migrant and common winter visitor. Inhabits edges of riparian, deciduous and mixed forests near open places; groves, forest-belts, trees in towns and villages; more rarely bushy thickets near water in open areas, where prefer cultivated areas with cereal fields on plains and in foothills. Several colonies of pastinator found in Altai at 1450-1600 m. During migration and in winter occurs in towns, villages, on stubble fields, meadows and hayfields. Very gregarious species, which most of the year lives in flocks numbering between several dozen and thousand, with many thousands gathering at roost sites. In spring, migration begins late February – early March, with most birds returning in first half of April; last arrive (second-years or non-breeding individuals) at Chokpak Pass in mid May. Breeding in colonies of 10-50000 pairs, which settled in March – April, sometimes together with breeding Great Cormorant, Grey Heron and Night Heron. Nest is built in tree (willow, elm, poplar, birch, pine or asp), in bush (Russian olive, willow, honeysuckle, dogrose) 0.5-20 m off ground or, as an exclusion, even on reeds, often close to other nests (e.g. up to 50 nests on one tree). Both partners repair an old nest or build new one from twigs lined with dry grass and some hair. Clutches of 3-6 eggs are laid mid April – early May. Female incubates while male feeds her and the juveniles in first few days after hatching. Later both parents feed juveniles, which fledge end May – mid June. Repeated breeding attempts if first clutch loss are common. Autumn migration begins mid – late September, most birds depart in October.

Races

Rook( Corvus frugilegus frugilegus )

Corvus frugilegus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 Bill is longer and thicker than on pastinator. The area of bare skin around the bill is more extensive and extends onto the forehead, lores, part of the ear coverts and gular area. The upperparts have a metallic violet sheen. Breeding in northern half of Kazakhstan, south up to Caspian Sea, Emba valley near Temir mouth, Barbikum and Tusum sands, lower Turgay river and Kurgaldzhino area. It also nests along Irtysh valley, in foothill plains of eastern and southeastern Kazakhstan, on Syrdarya and Chu valleys near Furmanovka settlement. Small colony found in Sharapkhana village, south of Karjantau ridge. During wandering and migration occurs everywhere both on plains and in mountains. Wintering in southern Kazakhstan, north up to Chapaevo village on Ural valley, Kurgaldzhino and Semipalatinsk. In mild winters, observed on Barsa-Kelmes island.

Rook( Corvus frugilegus pastinator )

Corvus frugilegus pastinator Gould, 1845 Bill is shorter and slimmer than on frugilegus. The mask of facial skin is less extensive, covering the forehead, lores and occasionally part of the ear coverts. Upperparts have a greenish sheen. Breeding in Southern Altai in larch woods at Markakol’ lake and on poplar and birch near Katon-Karagay settlement. It must occur on migration in southern and south-eastern Kazakhstan, but this not confirmed at present. At Chokpak Pass, where a lot of Rooks ringed every autumn, not recorded jet.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.