What does chough mean?
A chough is a member of the crow family, specifically either of two closely related birds of the genus Pyrrhocorax: the red-billed chough, with striking glossy-black plumage, a slender downward-curved crimson bill, and red legs, and the alpine chough, distinguished by its yellow bill. These acrobatic fliers favour rugged habitats — windswept sea cliffs, mountain crags, and upland pasture — where they probe soil and turf for invertebrates. The word is most often encountered in British contexts: the chough is an emblem of Cornwall, appearing on its coat of arms and bound up with local legend, including tales linking the bird to King Arthur. Once driven to near-extinction in parts of Britain, the species has become a celebrated conservation success story, its recolonisation of former haunts such as Cornwall and Kent attracting devoted watchers. For general readers, 'chough' adds precise, evocative vocabulary to any description of wild coastlines and mountains.
nounA crow-like bird of the genus Pyrrhocorax, especially the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) of coastal cliffs and mountains of Europe and Asia, noted for its glossy black plumage and curved bill.
- The red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), a glossy black corvid with a slender downward-curving red bill, found on coastal cliffs and mountains of western Europe and Asia.
- By extension, the alpine chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus), a similar yellow-billed species of high mountains.
"A pair of choughs wheeled and called above the Cornish sea cliffs."
"Choughs nested in the old slate quarries, their red bills vivid against the black rock."
"Conservationists celebrated the return of breeding choughs to the Kent coast after two centuries."
Regular plural; used for both individuals and pairs/flocks.
"Several choughs foraged among the sheep pasture above the cliffs."
The chough appears on the coat of arms of Cornwall — legend says King Arthur's soul lives on in the form of this red-billed bird.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chough
'Chough' descends from Old English 'cēo', a West Germanic name for a jackdaw or chough, making it one of the older bird names in the language. It is related to words for the same or similar corvids in other West Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'kauw' (jackdaw). In earlier centuries the term was applied somewhat loosely to various members of the crow family before settling on the red-billed species we know today.
How chough is actually used
Chiefly British usage; the word is familiar mainly to birders and readers of regional writing. The plural is simply 'choughs'.
Easily confused with chough
'Chuff' is a British informal adjective meaning pleased ('chuffed') or a verb for noisy puffing of an engine, whereas 'chough' is a black crow-like bird.