Alternative names: Jackdaw, Western Jackdaw
- Corvus monedula
Identification
34–39 cm (13½-15¼ in)
- Black plumage
- Blue-black metallic sheen on back and shoulders
- Grey nape and ear patches; paler grey in eastern subspecies
- Pale blue-green iris
- Short, pointed bill
Sexes similar. Juveniles have a dark iris at first, and a softer, tinged-brownish plumage without gloss.
Similar species
Immature Daurian Jackdaws look similar to this species, but more solidly black on the head.
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; populations decreased in most western European countries in the past but have now mostly recovered.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Sonamarg, Alt. 9212 ft.(2808 m), Kashmir, India, June-2011
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, including the British Isles, and Morocco and northwestern Algeria
- C. m. soemmerringii:
- C. m. cirtensis:
Habitat
Breeds in large holes in trees, or on cliffs, quarries, and buildings, also parks with open woodlands. Winters in open farmland.
Behaviour
They can form large winter roosts, often along with Rooks.
Diet
The diet includes insects, amphibians, rodents, seeds, fruits, berries, reptiles, eggs and young birds.
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. Jackdaws are the only corvids which nest in tree cavities, although they will also use crevices in cliffs and buildings. They will use long nest boxes. Lays 3-8 (average 4) eggs.
Vocalisation
Call: a ringing kyow, also chiak.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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
- BF Member observations
- Madge, S. & Burn, H. (1994) Crows and Jays: A Guide to the Crows, Jays and Magpies of the World. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
- Whatbird
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Eurasian Jackdaw. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Eurasian_Jackdaw
External Links
