Page 370 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CROWS
Order Passeriformes Family Corvidae Species Corvus monedula
Jackdaw
paler grey nape
and cheeks jet black
cap
grey-black
body
whitish eye

short,
thick
bill
IN FLIGHT

dark grey
underwings

small crow, the Jackdaw
A is an expert flier, and flocks
frequently soar and glide over
woods or around cliffs and quarries.
They combine aerobatics with much
calling, which makes them easy to
identify, but they can be overlooked when FLIGHT: straight, easy, fluent with constant floppy
feeding in mixed flocks on fields with Rooks. wing action, looser, slower than pigeon’s; agile,
Even in flight, in the flurry of a large flock, their aerobatic in wind, soaring well, usually in parties.
presence may not be immediately obvious although
the size difference is marked. Jackdaws are often
quite tame and frequently perch on buildings, large
and small. Small parties often fly off, high and
straight, with sudden bursts of speed.
VOICE Noisy; many calls based on short, sharp,
yapping sound, kyak or tjak!, with slightly squeaky,
bright quality, some longer calls like chee-ar.
NESTING Pile of sticks lined with animal dung,
mud, roots, moss, and hair, in hole in tree or building,
or old chimney; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Forages on ground,taking earthworms, WOODLAND CROW
seeds, and scraps; also takes caterpillars from foliage, Jackdaws like cliffs and old buildings but are equally at home in treetops
and berries. in mature woodland.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in most of Europe except
ROOK CHOUGH different call; Iceland and N Scandinavia. In
see p.369 squarer wings, two- NE Europe only in summer, but
tone below; longer,
see p.366 red resident elsewhere. In towns, parks,
bill woods, farmland with scattered
longer bill;
whitish woodland, and gardens around
face old houses with open chimneys.
Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 33–34cm (13–13 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 67–74cm (26–29in) Weight 220–270g (8–10oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 5–10 years Status Secure†
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