The chough — the red-billed, red-legged crow of Celtic legend — is rare across most of Britain but maintains a strong population on the sea cliffs and coastal grasslands of the Llŷn Peninsula. To watch a group of choughs tumbling in the updrafts above the cliffs, their distinctive "chough" call cutting above the wind, is one of the more unexpectedly affecting wildlife experiences in northwest Wales. This is Experience #66 of the Snowdonia 100.
Where to Find Them
| Best locations | Coastal cliff paths of the Llŷn Peninsula, particularly the western tip |
| Braich y Pwll | The tip of Llŷn — strong chough population on the cliff tops |
| Year-round | Resident; most visible when feeding on coastal grassland in winter |
| Identification | Crow-sized; entirely black; bright red curved bill and red legs |
The Bird
The chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is Britain's rarest crow, its population concentrated on the western coasts and islands — Wales, southwest England, Ireland, Scotland. The Welsh name is "brân goesgoch" — red-legged crow — and the bird has a long association with Celtic mythology: the legend that King Arthur was transformed into a chough after his death, his spirit residing in the red-billed bird, is recorded in Welsh and Cornish traditions. The current Welsh population of approximately 400 pairs is globally significant.
The Behaviour
Choughs are acrobatic fliers, using cliff updrafts to perform aerial displays that are both functional and apparently playful. Their specialised curved bill is adapted for probing short turf for insects and their larvae — a feeding strategy that makes them dependent on closely grazed coastal grassland. The decline of traditional grazing on cliff tops has been a significant threat to the species.
Experience #66 of 100 — Wildlife category.
Independently written — Snowdon.com