Defining Characteristics
Jackdaws are small corvids. Their plumage is predominantly glossy black, often displaying iridescent purple or blue sheens on the crown and wings. A striking feature is the light grey to greyish-silver nape and neck, which contrasts sharply with their black face and cap, creating a “hooded” appearance.
Their pale, almost silvery-white or bluish-white eyes stand out against their dark feathers. This eye color is particularly prominent in adults, as juveniles typically have darker eyes that lighten with maturity. Jackdaws possess a short, stout, and black beak. Their legs are also black.
Habitat and Behavior
Jackdaws are adaptable birds, thriving in diverse environments across Europe, western Asia, and western North Africa. They are commonly found in urban areas, farmlands, open woodlands, and coastal cliffs, often making use of human-made structures for nesting and roosting. These birds frequently inhabit towns and cities, where they might nest in chimneys, old church towers, or other buildings.
Jackdaws are social birds, often living in large flocks, especially outside the breeding season. They are vocal birds, communicating with a distinctive, sharp “tchack” or “kya” call. Their intelligence is well-documented, with observations of problem-solving abilities and complex social structures within their groups. They are also known to mimic various sounds.
Their diet is omnivorous and opportunistic. Jackdaws feed on a wide variety of items, including insects, seeds, fruits, carrion, and even food scraps found in urban settings. They typically forage on the ground in open areas with short vegetation. Jackdaws are monogamous and build simple nests of sticks, often in cavities such as tree holes, rock crevices, or within buildings.
Distinguishing Jackdaws
Identifying a jackdaw can sometimes be challenging due to their resemblance to other members of the crow family, particularly rooks and carrion crows. Jackdaws are the smallest of these three corvids, measuring 34–39 cm, significantly smaller than the 45–47 cm carrion crow and the similar-sized rook.
The most distinguishing visual cue for a jackdaw is its plumage: while its body is black, it features a prominent light grey to silvery-grey nape and neck, creating a “hooded” appearance. In contrast, carrion crows are entirely glossy black, and rooks are also all-black but may have a purple sheen in bright sunlight.
Another clear identifier for adult jackdaws is their pale, silvery-white or bluish-white eyes, which stand out against their dark face. Both rooks and carrion crows have dark brown or black eyes.
The jackdaw has a short, stout, and black bill. Rooks possess a paler, more pointed bill with a distinctive patch of bare, greyish-white skin at its base, especially in adults. Carrion crows have a robust, entirely black bill. When observing them, the jackdaw’s relatively shorter, thicker neck and typically faster, deeper wingbeats in flight can also aid in identification.