Jackdaw

Jackdaw
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus Species: monedula
Binomial name
Corvus monedula

The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is one of the smallest species in the genus of crows and ravens. Most of the plumage is black or grayish black except for the cheeks, nape and neck which are light grey to grayish silver. The iris is grayish white or silvery white, thus it is the only member of the genus outside of the Australasian region to have this feature. Sociable, moving around in either pairs (male and female), or in larger groups though the pairs of birds stay together within the flocks.

Range: A very large area stretching from North West Africa through virtually all of Europe, Iran, Northwest India and Siberia. Inhabits wooded steppes, intermittent woodland, cultivated land, pasture, coastal cliffs and villages and towns.

Food: Food mostly taken from the ground but does take some food in trees. Insects and other invertebrates, weed seeds and grain, scraps of human food in towns, stranded fish on the shore, and will more readily take food from bird tables than other corvus species.

Nest: Usually nests in colonies in cavities of trees, cliffs or ruined buildings and sometimes even in dense conifers. Eggs, normally 4-5, incubated over 17-18 days and fledged after 30-35 days.

Voice: The commonest is the well known tchak-tchak call.

• A detailed description of the Jackdaw's social behaviour has been described in Konrad Lorenz's book King Solomon's ring

External link

• Picture of a Jackdaw (http://www.mybitoftheplanet.com/2002/2002june_files/jackdaw0206big.jpg)