The Cornish Chough: Cornwall’s Iconic Red-Billed Bird Cornwall, with its dramatic cliffs, windswept moorlands, and rugged coastline, is home to one of the UK’s most charismatic and symbolic birds — the Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). Recognizable by its glossy black feathers, bright red legs, and striking red bill, the Cornish Chough is more than just a pretty bird — it’s a living emblem of the region’s cultural heritage. 1. Identification and Appearance The Chough is part of the crow family (Corvidae), but it stands out thanks to its: Shiny black plumage that can gleam with iridescent blue or green in sunlight. Long, curved red bill adapted for digging in soil for invertebrates. Red legs that match the color of its bill. Acrobatic flight: They perform graceful aerobatics, often swooping along cliff edges. Juvenile birds have duller bills and legs, gradually turning bright red as they mature. Their calls are a distinctive trilling “chee-ow”, often heard echoing across coastal cl...
An Intimate Guide to British Wildlife