Jackdaw

Jackdaws partner up in their first spring as adult birds and stay faithful to each other all their lives. The couples often sit very close to each other, as if they were constantly newly in love. Before each night’s rest, the jackdaws gather with their allies, the rooks, in large, loud flocks around churches or high trees. Right before the darkness settles, the entire flock of several hundred birds takes off simultaneously with their accommodation for the night in sight.

Appearance

Males and females look the same. The jackdaw has a blue-black colour on the top of its head, its back is black, it is dark grey underneath, and the wings and tail are glistening black. The young bird has a blue iris, which turns grey as an adult.

Similar bird

It is distinguishable from the more prominent and completely black rook because of its grey neck and white iris. Loves chimneys.

Sounds and song

Bouncing and melodic, many different pitches.

Song

Food and bird tables

Will frequent the bird table from time to time.
The jackdaw will eat almost anything and search fields, dumps and wastepaper baskets for food. Will visit a bird table now and then and is a frequent garden visitor in the late summer when it will feed on fruits and berries.

The nest and hollows

Jackdaws like to breed in large colonies. They live in nesting boxes or hollow trees and hollows found in buildings or chimneys.

Distribution

Summer  Resident  Winter

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