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Rooks are among the earliest messengers of spring, arriving when patches on the ground get free from snow. They are not quite as common as the hooded crows that live here throughout the year. Rooks nest in colonies, preferably in cultural landscapes: parks, cemeteries, suitable tree stands. They occur locally, mostly in South and East Estonia, and can be quite unknown in other places.

 

Where trees are crowded with crows’ nests, add to that a corresponding clamour and bustle, we have almost certainly to do with rooks. Last week rooks have been straying through the nest colonies – a few days of work, and the site is again silent. It is still some four weeks left until nesting.

 

In size they are rather similar to their hooded crow relatives. The plumage is black, with a metallic purplish sheen in the sun.

Smaller than ravens, with a pale yellow beak base and an area bare of feathers around the beak.