Choughs Return to Tintagel Castle in Cornwall

Why this is here: A pair of choughs first arrived in Cornwall from Ireland in 2001, initiating the current population revival across the region.

English Heritage and ornithologists report choughs are nesting at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, United Kingdom, after a roughly fifty-year absence. The birds, with red beaks and feet, are considered Cornwall’s national bird and appear on the region’s coat of arms. Their disappearance stemmed from habitat loss due to declining grazed clifftop land.

Since 2001, choughs have slowly returned to Cornwall, beginning with a pair arriving from Ireland. As of May 2026, up to four choughs frequent the cliffs and castle grounds at Tintagel, a place linked to the legend of King Arthur. English Heritage intentionally kept the return quiet to allow the birds to establish themselves.

While the population is recovering, connecting the Cornish choughs with those in south Wales and extending their range remains a goal for conservationists. The birds once inhabited much of the South West Coast Path, and researchers hope to see that happen again.