Rook: Birds of Britain

Rook. Familiar Wild Birds by W Swaysland

Rooks are sociable birds, feeding in flocks and living together in treetop rookeries, which in Scotland can contain as many as two thousand nests. Rooks have a distinct social hierarchy, known as the “peck order”, in which high-ranked birds eat before those lower down the scale. This reduces quarrelling over food when it is scarce, and ensures the survival of some birds.

This edited article originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 905 published on 26 May 1979. Click on a picture to find out more about licensing images for commercial or personal/educational use. We are also able to license textual material. Please contact us for details.