Choughs are monogamous, and show high partner and site fidelity.
Both species build a bulky nest of roots, sticks and plant stems lined with grass, fine twiglets or hair.
It is constructed on a ledge, in a cave or similar fissure in a cliff face, or in man-made locations like abandoned buildings, quarries or dams.
Red-billed will also sometimes use occupied buildings such as Mongolian monasteries.
The choughs are not colonial, although in suitable habitat several pairs may nest in close proximity.

Both species lay 3–5 normally whitish eggs blotched with brown or grey, which are incubated by the female alone.
The chicks hatch after two to three weeks.
Red-billed chough chicks are almost naked, but the chicks of the higher altitude Alpine chough hatch with a dense covering of natal down.
The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge in 29–31 days after hatching for Alpine chough, and 31–41 days for red-billed.

The Alpine chough lays its eggs about one month later than its relative, although breeding success and reproductive behaviour are similar.
The similarities between the two species presumably arose because of the same strong environmental constraints on breeding behaviour.
The first-year survival rate of the juvenile red-billed chough is 72.5 percent, and for the Alpine it is 77%.
The annual adult survival rate is 83–92% for Alpine, but is unknown for red-billed.
Choughs are monogamous, and show high partner and site fidelity. Both species build a bulky nest of roots, sticks and plant stems lined with grass, fine twiglets or hair. It is constructed on a ledge, in a cave or similar fissure in a cliff face, or in man-made locations like abandoned buildings, quarries or dams. Red-billed will also sometimes use occupied buildings such as Mongolian monasteries. The choughs are not colonial, although in suitable habitat several pairs may nest in close proximity.
Both species lay 3–5 normally whitish eggs blotched with brown or grey, which are incubated by the female alone. The chicks hatch after two to three weeks. Red-billed chough chicks are almost naked, but the chicks of the higher altitude Alpine chough hatch with a dense covering of natal down. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge in 29–31 days after hatching for Alpine chough, and 31–41 days for red-billed.
The Alpine chough lays its eggs about one month later than its relative, although breeding success and reproductive behaviour are similar. The similarities between the two species presumably arose because of the same strong environmental constraints on breeding behaviour. The first-year survival rate of the juvenile red-billed chough is 72.5 percent, and for the Alpine it is 77%. The annual adult survival rate is 83–92% for Alpine, but is unknown for red-billed.
Chough