DESCRIPTION

Bright black plumage, yellow beak, red legs, dark gray in young people.

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HABITAT

Common species in the high mountains to the snow line and down into the valleys in winter. Nidification observed from 500 to 3800 m (Mont-Blanc). It lives in the mountains above the last forests and up to 4000 m altitude. However, in winter it makes an altitudinal migration and approaches human dwellings.

The nest is built in the rocks with coarse materials such as small branches but also with plant debris (leaves, roots, ...). It often nests in colonies.

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WAY OF LIFE

A very social bird, the alpine chough breeds in colonies in crevices and caves. It hovers often by taking advantage of the updrafts along the rock faces. In winter, more time is it spents at medium altitude, near cottages, villages and ski resorts to exploit the waste associated with human activity in the mountains. They are found in large numbers on busy summits, near refuges, cable cars and other highly visited places, where they become very familiar and let themselves be fed.

Sedentary, it remains all year long in its breeding territory, but makes frequent appearances in valleys in winter. It travels in large troops who benefit from thermal climbs. This bird lives in bands throughout the year and animates the alpine and nival level of our mountains. The bird is not shy.

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FOOD

Insects, worms, snails, mollusks, spiders, fruits, carrion, garbage.

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BREEDING

It is monogamous, faithful and feeds its female all year round. The male and the female collaborate in the incubation.

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THREAT

It is a protected species in France.

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