Species:

Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Change species:
Main Images:
Next species:
Length (cm):
38-38
14-14
Wingspan (cm):
75-85
20-22
Weight (gram):
188-252
18-29
Size group:
Crow-size
Sparrow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

All 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:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Differs from House Sparrow by warm brown crown, white cheeks, white (incomplete) collar and diagnostic, black cheek patch. From Spanish Sparrow by cheek patch, and lack of black breast markings. Brown and streaked rump. The black bib does not expand towards the chest. Head profile rounder and neater than House Sparrow, with slightly smaller bill. Identification by profile alone is possible with practice. Sexes and ages alike.

Sound:

Distinct, high-pitched and explosive contact-call; "che-witt" typically given in flight. Second syllable rising rapidly in pitch. Most other sounds similar to House Sparrow, and may be difficult to identify. Chattering sounds are generally harder, and song slightly higher pitched than House Sparrow.

Call and song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Peter Boesman, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Crow-like
Silhouette
Sparrow-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file