Eurasian Jackdaw - BirdForum Opus

Photo by IanF
Pitlochry, Scotland

Corvus monedula

Identification

• Black
• Blue-black metallic sheen on back and shoulders
• Grey nape and ear patches
• Pale grey iris
• Short, pointed bill

Distribution

Photo by Mahsleb
Mistley, Essex, May 2009

Palearctic region.

Accidental vagrant to northeastern United States and Canada.

Taxonomy

Subspecies^[1]

This is a polytypic species, consisting of four subspecies:

• 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)

Habitat

Breeds on cliffs, quarries, castles and cathedrals, 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

Nests are untidy stick structures, sometimes placed in chimney pots. They will use long nest boxes.

Vocalisation

Call: a ringing kyow, also chiak. <flashmp3>Corvus monedula (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. BF Member observations
3. Whatbird

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Jackdaw. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Jackdaw

External Links

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