Differences between Falcon and Rook

Falcon and Rook are two classes of birds that belong to the Falconidae and Corvidae families respectively.

Falcons are birds of prey. They are known for their agility and sharp vision. They have superior hunting skills, characterized by quick identification, chase, and capture. Their back, head, and wings are bluish grey, while their neck and belly are white with greyish black markings. The skin around the beak, the legs, and feet are yellow. The beak of Falcons is sharply bent at the tip, where they also have a sharp tooth that helps in killing the prey. The talons on the feet are long, sharp, and curved. The Falcon family includes about 40 species.

Rook is a Eurasian bird that resembles the Crow. It has black plumage with purple sheen in addition to bushy feathers on its thighs. The bill is sharp and slightly curved. The legs are black with three forward and one backward toe. The bird differs from Crow and other members of the family by the white bare skin at the base of its bill. It is however as intelligent as other species of the Corvidae family. It can solve puzzles, plan in advance, build and apply tools, mimic human vocabulary, and display sophisticated behavior. The Rook family consists of two sub-species, namely, the Western Rook and the Eastern Rook.

Where are Falcon and Rook found?

Falcons live everywhere where they can find food. They flourish near coastlines, but can be found in river valleys, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests too. They exist in all parts of the world, except Antarctica.

Rooks prefer open grasslands, agricultural fields, and pastures with ample tall trees for breeding. The birds can be found in the fringes of towns and cities. Rooks exist in the UK, Ireland, Iran, northern and central Europe, parts of Asia, and New Zealand.

What do Falcon and Rook eat?

Falcons are carnivores and chiefly eat other birds, pigeons being their favorite. They prey on birds like doves, gulls, ducks, bats, and waterfowl. Falcons are capable of seizing birds in mid-air. They sometimes also eat fish, frogs, squirrels, mice, and insects.

Rooks are omnivores. They dig into agricultural fields for insects, larvae, and worms. They also eat beetles, larger insects, mice, small birds, eggs, seeds, grains, carrion, and food waste thrown away by humans.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Falcon and Rook

• Both Falcon and Rook eat Fish.
• Both Falcon and Rook eat Frogs.
• Both Falcon and Rook eat Lizards.
• Both Falcon and Rook eat Snakes.
• Both Falcon and Rook eat Turtles.
• Both Falcon and Rook eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Falcon, but not by all Rook.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Falconand Rook.
• Mice are eaten by both Falcon and Rook.

Size of Falcon and Rook?

When it comes to size, Falcons are usually 15-60 centimeters long. Their wingspan could be 74-120 centimeters.. Rooks are 1.4-1.5 feet long. They have a wingspan of three feet.

The average weight of Falcons is 1.5-3.3 pounds. The male birds weigh 0.73-2.20 pounds, while the females weigh 1.5-3.3 pounds. The Gyrfalcon is the heaviest of all species. It weighs 3.3 pounds. while The average weight of Rooks is 11.99-18.69 ounces.

Where do Falcon and Rook nest?

Falcons do not build their nests. They use tree holes, ledges in cliffs, or discarded nests of other birds to lay their eggs. Both partners engage in incubating the eggs, which hatch in 29-32 days. The young birds will be able to fly when they are about six weeks old. Nevertheless, they stay under their parents’ care till they are about 10 weeks old.

Rooks build large nests in colonies that are known as rookeries. They are constructed with twigs and lined with mud, moss, leaves, grass, hair, and wool. The nests stand freely on tall trees. Both male and female partners involve themselves in the construction of the nests. In some instances, they use old nests from previous years. The eggs are greenish white and sometimes have dark spots on them. They are about four centimeters long. The mother Rook incubates the eggs for 16-18 days. During this time, she does not leave the nest and gets fed by her partner. After the eggs hatch, both partners take turns to feed the young ones. The chicks fledge when they are four weeks old but continue to secure food from the parents for more time.

How long do Falcon and Rook live?

The average lifespan of Falcons is 13 years, although they may live up to 16-20 years in the wild. Many birds die young due to malnutrition. Several adults are also recorded to be dying early because of habitat loss, DDT poisoning, airplane accidents, and environmental issues.

The average lifespan of Rooks is five to 10 years. However, through bird banding it has been observed that some Rooks live up to 20 years.

Are Falcon or Rook migratory birds?

Not all Falcons migrate. Peregrines from Alaska and Greenland migrate to USA and South America during winters. The Amur Falcon migrates in winter from Russia and China to India and South Africa. Most other species remain in their habitats throughout the year if the climate is favorable.

The migration of Rooks depends on their location. The ones living in the southern hemisphere are mostly residents. The birds in the north relocate to the south during winters. They migrate in large flocks along with other species from their family, especially the Jackdaws. They return to their rookeries at the onset of spring. Rooks from northern parts of Europe and Asia migrate to southern Asia, western Europe, and the Middle East for wintering.

Do Falcon and Rook fly in flocks?

A group of Falcons is called a cast or cauldron. Falcons are solitary birds. They live, hunt, and migrate alone. They socialize only in the breeding season.

A flock of Rooks is known as parliament, building, or clamor. Rooks are the most sociable in the Corvidae family. They are always spotted in large groups. They forage in flocks and use various vocalization to communicate. The birds are also known to play amongst themselves. In addition, Rooks sleep in big groups and nest together in large colonies.

Are Falcon or Rook protected?

Falcons are protected across the world under various laws like Migratory Bird Act, Wildlife Conservation Act, and the International CITES treaty. The vulnerable species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Rooks are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the UK. However, they can be killed with a permit to protect crops and livestock, and for the safety of aircrafts. Similar laws exist in other parts of Europe and Asia.

Are Falcon or Rook endangered?

Falcons are not endangered. The American Peregrine was classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970. However, it was removed from the list in 1999. The existence of the bird was threatened owing to DDT poisoning. However, the banning of DDT together with other recovery projects have saved the species from becoming extinct.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified Rooks as species of least concern. The birds are not endangered. They exist in millions in their territorial countries.

Can Falcon and Rook fly?

Falcons are splendid flyers. They have thin, tapered wings that help them to cut down drag and fly in high speeds. With sharp eyesight, the birds can dive at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour to capture their prey. The average flying speed of Peregrine Falcons, the fastest animal in the world, is 242 miles an hour. Falcons are solitary travelers that fly about 15,500 miles each year. Amur falcons are the longest migratory birds in the world. They fly over 13,600 miles at a stretch.

Rooks typically fly in large flocks. They keep their wings stiff during direct flights. They sometimes soar high in the company of Jackdaws. They fly at a speed of 32-45 miles an hour during migration.

Can Falcon and Rook swim?

Falcons do not swim. The structure of their body and feet are not ideal for swimming. However, some Falcon species dive into water to catch the prey.

Rooks do not have webbed feet like waterbirds. Their body is not adaptable for swimming.

Mating patterns among Falcon and Rook

Falcons start mating when they are about two years old. The male performs courtship displays in the air to attract the female. He also fetches preys for the female, who in turn shows her acceptance by perching in a suitable spot. The female typically lays three to four eggs, which are around two inches long and pink or brownish in color. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the female usually sits on the young ones to keep them warm while the male gets food for her. The partners protect the young ones by attacking anything that intimidates them.

Rooks generally start mating when they are two years old. The male Rook sets the ground for courtship by bowing to the female, swinging his tail, and crouching his wings. He will also fetch food for her. The female will bow in return, ruffle her wings, and spread out her tail in acceptance. The partners caress each other’s bill and sing while mating. They are likely to be assaulted by other male birds. The female lays three to four eggs every breeding season. She takes the responsibility of incubating the eggs while the male fetches food for her. Once the eggs hatch, the partners feed the young ones during nesting and even for few weeks after fledging.

When is the mating season for Falcon and Rook ?

Falcons are lonely birds that come together only during mating. The mating season depends on the location. It is generally March-July.

The mating season for Rooks is March-June. The migratory birds return to their territories when spring sets in.

Do Falcon and Rook mate for life?

Falcons are monogamous and mate for life. They also tend to use the same nest every breeding season.

Rooks are monogamous and generally mate for life. Nevertheless, there may be instances of bigamy. A nest could be used by multiple females.

How do Falcon and Rook sleep?

Falcons are active during the day, although they may take occasional naps. They sleep during the night while standing on one leg and resting their head on their back.

Rooks spend the nights in enormous flocks. As the sun sets, a noisy group of birds return to roosting sites. They sleep on branches in woodlands or even settle down in their rookeries. At daybreak, the birds disperse in different directions in search of food.

Can Falcon and Rook be eaten?

Falcons were eaten in the past in some cultures like Hare and Strait. They ate the bird meat by boiling, frying, or roasting. However, consumption of Falcons is no longer permitted by stringent conservation laws.

Rooks are said to be consumed largely during the second world war. People still consume them in a gravy. The Rook pie recipe is much acclaimed. Although consumption of scavenging birds is not desired, people are not averse to Rook meat. The meat of young Rooks is said to be more delectable than that of adult Rooks.

Can you hunt Falcon or Rook?

Hunting of Falcons was widespread for sport, falconry, feathers, skin, and meat. Although hunting has reduced due to strict laws, falconry is still practiced in countries like United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.

Shooting young Rooks was a sport in the UK in earlier years. This served the purpose of sport, pest control, and hunting for meat. Rooks are known as agricultural pests. Killing them with with a license is permitted in most parts of the world as they destroy livestock and crops. They also rummage waste bins and cause health hazards to humans.

Can you feed Falcon or Rook?

It is illegal to feed wild birds in many countries. However, in countries like the USA, one can own and feed Falcons. The birds are carnivores and should be fed insects, rodents, and ground meat.

Rooks are not picky eaters. They can be given worms, insects, meat, berries, and fruits.