From Opus

Photo by IanF
Pitlochry, Scotland

Corvus monedula

[edit] Identification

• Black plumage
• Blue-black metallic sheen on back and shoulders
• Grey nape and ear patches
• Pale grey iris
• Short, pointed bill
• Soemmerringii with a distinctive pale collar

Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark iris and a softer, tinged-brownish plumage without gloss.

Photo by Mahsleb
Mistley, Essex, May 2009

[edit] Similar species

Immature Daurian Jackdaws look similar to this species.

[edit] Distribution

Found in most of Europe, patchily in northern Africa, the Middle East and western and central Asia.
Accidental vagrant to northeastern United States and Canada.
Abundant in most of its range but populations have decreased in most western European countries in the past.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

This is a polytypic species, consisting of four subspecies^[1]:

• C. m. monedula:

• Scandinavia; occasionally winters to England and France

• C. m. spermologus:

• Western and central Europe; winters to the Canary Islands and Corsica

• C. m. soemmerringii:

• Eastern Europe, northern and central Asia; winters to Iran and north-western India (Kashmir)

• C. m. cirtensis:

• Northern Africa (Morocco and Algeria)

[edit] Habitat

Breeds on cliffs, quarries, castles and cathedrals, also parks with open woodlands. Winters in open farmland.

[edit] Behaviour

They can form large winter roosts, often along with Rooks.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects, amphibians, rodents, seeds, fruits, berries, reptiles, eggs and young birds.

[edit] Breeding

Breeding season starts in late April. Pairs stay together for several years. Usually several pairs are nesting in close proximity on rooftop chimneys, in caves and quarries. The nests are untidy stick structures. They will use long nest boxes. Lays 3 -8 (average 4) eggs.

[edit] Vocalisation

Call: a ringing kyow, also chiak.

[edit] References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
3. BF Member observations
4. Whatbird

• List of references

[edit] External Links