Crow Country by Mark Cocker

Crow Country  is a wonderful study on rooks, a species of crow found widely in the UK countryside. The  narrative centres on Mark Cocker's observations of the rooks and jackdaws (a smaller species of crow) that roost near his home in the Yare Valley in Norfolk.

The book puts the crows in the context of the wider landscape and ecology of the area. Cocker also looks at the cultural significance that crows hold for us and their own high intelligence. He travels across the UK in search of other roosts and describes in beautiful detail the mesmerising sight of large flocks of rooks and jackdaws flocking together before settling into their roost for the night.

This is a beautifully written and fascinating book, giving insights into what are common bird species, easily overlooked by many people. After reading this, you'll certainly pay more attention to rooks!

Crow Country by Mark Cocker, published by Vintage Books, printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.