Crows and jays · Perching birds
Eurasian Jackdaw
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Coloeus monedula
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Voice
Call
Call
Call
How to recognize it
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34–39 cm, about the size of a small crow
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Black plumage, grey nape and sides of the neck
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Pale grey-white eyes, short stout bill
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Flocks, brisk walking, fast jerky wingbeats in flight, call "chyak-chyak"
About the species
The Eurasian Jackdaw is a small, compact crow relative that feels very much at home around people. Up close, the pale eye stands out against its dark, plain look more than any single pattern.
It is noisy, social, and fairly bold once it gets used to an area. You usually notice it by its lively call, especially the repeated metallic chyak-chyak or kak-kak, and by the brisk way it walks and shifts through a group.
It uses old buildings, parks, gardens, cemeteries, and other open places with large trees and sheltered corners. It eats a wide mix of food, from insects and other small invertebrates to seeds, grain, berries, and food waste, and most populations stay year-round while northern and eastern ones move south in winter.
Did you know?
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Jealous partner
A male jackdaw guards the pair bond: spotting his mate edging too close to a bachelor, he grabs her by the tail and yanks her back.
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Two thousand kilometres south
In northern populations only old jackdaws stay put year-round; the rest migrate, with some individuals covering more than two thousand kilometres.
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Plucking calves for nest lining
Jackdaws pluck tufts of hair from the back of a calf grazing in a field, gathering lining for their nest.
Where to find
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In old stone quarters, near bell towers, chimneys, and roof voids — look for jackdaws calling from ledges or slipping into crevices.
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On bridges, water towers, and old station buildings — especially in the morning, when flocks drop to the ground to feed along pavement edges and bare patches.
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Along canal banks, river promenades, and pond edges with open muddy margins — watch for short ground runs and quick bill-turning in the soil.
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On cemeteries, vacant lots, and parks with scattered large trees — easiest to notice when a flock gathers on treetops or lines of wires.
