Red-billed Chough

The red-billed chough is a crow with velvet-black plumage glossed green on the body, a long curved red bill and red legs. The nominate subspecies measures 39–40 centimetres, with a wingspan of 73–90 centimetres, and weighs about 310 grams on average. The sexes look alike, but a juvenile has an orange bill and pink legs until its first autumn and duller, less glossy plumage. Its loud, ringing call and buoyant, acrobatic flight with widely spread primaries are characteristic, and it is unlikely to be confused with other birds. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Eight subspecies breed on mountains and sea cliffs from the western coasts of Ireland and Britain through southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia, South Asia and China. The species is a non-migratory resident throughout its range, and its main habitat is high mountain country; in the Himalayas it is found mainly between 2,400 and 3,000 metres. Pairs stay together for life and show fidelity to the breeding site, which is usually a cave or crevice in a cliff face. (Wikipedia, general species account)