This page is about the rook (Corvus frugilegus) in the United Kingdom.
In the EEA Article 12 dataset for 2013-2018, the United Kingdom reported the rook as a breeding species.
Status summary
- Reported breeding population: 866,952-1,106,912 breeding pairs.
- Short-term breeding population trend: decreasing.
- Long-term breeding population trend: decreasing.
- Reported breeding range: 230,700 km².
- Breeding range trend: short-term stable, long-term stable.
In the Article 12 Annex II table, the rook is listed for the United Kingdom as Annex II.B. Nationally hunted: No.
The United Kingdom is no longer in the EU, so current rules are national. The Article 12 note says the rook was not a quarry species in that report, but could be taken under general licence or derogation.
Important: the EU Birds Directive and Article 12 reporting describe conservation and hunting status. They do not mean that killing birds is automatically allowed everywhere or at any time. Local law, protected seasons and derogations can still change what is legal in practice.