Raven (Corvus corax)
Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
Buzzard size and largest passerine in the region. All black with very heavy bill, flat crown and shaggy throat. Long, broad wings and wedge-shaped tail. Superb, powerful and often playful flight. Often soars like a raptor.
Sound:Quite varied repertoire. Most heard sound a short, coarse, but resonant "korrk. Other sounds may be surprisingly resonant and pure, like a ringing "clong" etc. Shows even more variation when courting.
Alarm call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CCAll black plumage, red legs and relatively short and straight, yellow bill. Note that immature Red-billed Chough has yellowish-brown bill, but never as pure yellow as in Alpine Chough, and the whole bill is curved. Easily confused with Red-billed Chough at a distance where both species occur, but note more narrow, less fingered wings, and longer, more rounded tail. Resembles Jackdaw in size, but flying Alpine Choughs differs by two-toned underparts of wings (darker coverts). Flight acrobatic, but a little more stilted than Red-billed Chough.
Sound:Diagnostic and very different from Red-billed Chough. A sharp, quite high-pitched, whistling trill "chreeeee". Usually alternated with pure-toned high-pitched whistles, falling abruptly in pitch with a "clipping" ending.
Contact call:
Distribution:
Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)
Ecology:Birdlife ecology
Links:
Observation.org Latest observations
Image search Flickr NB! May give other species
CC