Eurasian Jackdaw

Corvus monedulaOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Crows and Jays (Corvidae)

Codes: Common Name: EUJA Scientific Name: CORMON ITIS Taxonomic No.: 179746

Related Birds

Chihuahuan Raven
American Crow
Fish Crow
Tamaulipas Crow
Northwestern Crow

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Overview

Eurasian Jackdaw: Small, black crow with glossy blue-black metallic sheen on back and shoulders. Nape and ear patches are gray, eyes are pale gray, and bill is short and pointed. Feeds on insects, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, eggs and young of other birds, seeds, fruits and berries.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Jackdaw: Accidental to casual in southeastern Canada and northeastern U.S. Found in both town and country, and is often seen around churches and old buildings; resident on farmlands and in towns and parks.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"chack", "kow", "kyow"

Interesting Facts

The Eurasian Jackdaw is one of the smallest species in the genus of crows and ravens.

In some cultures, a Jackdaw on the roof is said to predict a new arrival; alternatively, a Jackdaw settling on the roof of a house is an omen of death and coming across one is considered a bad omen.

Aesop wrote four fables about Jackdaws: The Eagle and the Jackdaw, The Vain Jackdaw, The Escaped Jackdaw, and The Jackdaw and the Pigeon.

A group of jackdaws are collectively known as a "flock" and a "train" of jackdaws.

Bird Term Glossary

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Eurasian Jackdaw

● Song: "chack", "kow", "kyow"

● Foraging & Feeding: Eurasian Jackdaw: Eats seeds, fruits, berries, large insects, small reptiles, amphibians, small rodents, and eggs and nestlings of other birds. Forages in open and cultivated country; hops on branches in trees.

● Breeding & nesting: Eurasian Jackdaw: Four to six pale blue-green or buff eggs with fine brown dots are laid in a nest made of twigs and grass, lined with finer grass and wool, and built in a tree hole, cliff ridge, burrow, crevice, or pipe. Incubation ranges from 18 to 19 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Eurasian Jackdaw: No other black bird, and especially no other crow in North America, has combination of pale eyes and gray nape and ear patches.

Flight Pattern

Flies with somewhat jerky buoyant wing beats. Glides between perches within trees, and from perch to ground.

Eurasian Jackdaw Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Eurasian Jackdaw: Accidental to casual in southeastern Canada and northeastern U.S. Found in both town and country, and is often seen around churches and old buildings; resident on farmlands and in towns and parks.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester or colonial

^PopulationAccidental to casual

^MigrationNorthern birds migrate

^Weight8.6 Ounces

Perching-like Body

Nape

Also called the hindneck or collar, it is the back of the neck where the head joins the body.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America