Alpine Chough

The Alpine Chough is a passerine bird belonging to the corvid family, known for its all-black plumage, bright yellow beak and orange-red legs, which tend to be darker in juveniles. Small to medium in size compared to other corvids, it reaches a length of about 37 cm, a wingspan of about 80 cm and a weight of about 260 grams.
It is a skilled flyer, with a silhouette characterized by long, rounded wings and a relatively long, rounded tail at the end. This species is typical of mountain environments, where it lives mainly above the upper limit of forests, in rocky habitats, alpine grasslands and along the edges of snowfields. It nests on rock faces and feeds on a wide variety of foods, including insects, berries and food scraps.
In winter, the alpine chough may descend to lower altitudes, frequenting valley floors, meadows and population centers, especially during heavy snowfall. High-altitude mountain tourist areas often provide a constant source of food, allowing these birds to overwinter even at altitudes of 2,500-3,000 meters. The alpine chough is prized for its liveliness and distinctive call, often heard in alpine landscapes.