Species
Corvus frugilegus
Common Name(s)
Rook
Family
Corvidae
Habitat
Rooks occur mainly in human altered habitat (generally avoid forested habitat), usually built their nest particularly in eucalyptus trees. They are very social birds and can built colonies of up to several hundred birds.
They feed invertebrates (insects and earthworms), walnuts and seeds.
Description
Rooks are of similar size as magpies and have a totally black coat with a violet-blue glossy sheen.
Threat To Plants
Rocks are aggressive towards native birds and this might have indirect effects on plant species due to alternations in ecological processes. Facilitate establishment of walnut trees (burry them into ground as winter stock). Generally they can be seen more an agricultural pest.
Distribution
Mainly Hawkes Bay, northern Wairarapa and Canterbury
Measurements
Length: <45cm
Year Introduced
1862-1875
Reason For Introduction
Biological control of insects, Souvenir of the homeland
Colonisation History
First introduced to New Zealand betweeen1862-1874 but have spread only very slowly as by the late 1970s they were only confirmed in Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, southern Waurarapa and Canterbury.