Jackdaw Factfile
Latin name
Distribution
Jackdaws occur throughout the UK, though are largely absent from the central, west and NW Highlands of Scotland, and the Western Isles.
Habitat
The Jackdaw occurs in an especially varied range of habitats, which includes open woodland, farmland and parks with scattered mature trees, sea cliffs, quarries and old buildings in towns and villages, with all these places providing potential nest sites.
UK Population
There are around 1,600,000 breeding pairs of Jackdaw in the UK.
The smallest of the crow family in the UK, the Jackdaw is easy to identify with its shiny-black and silver-grey plumage, with the grey back to the head and neck contrasting with the black of the face. The pale grey eye of the adult Jackdaw is also diagnostic. Male and female Jackdaws look the same. Juvenile Jackdaws are more tricky to identify, because they’re black all over – which makes them look much like other species of crow at a young age. However, as juvenile Jackdaws remain with their parents, then this will be the best way to identify them. Jackdaws are a sociable bird, and not just with their own species but will also flock with Rooks and Starlings to form large feeding groups outside of the breeding season.
Video footage of Jackdaws
Jackdaw nesting and breeding habits
Unusually for a corvid, the Jackdaw’s nest is in a hole in a tree, suitable opening in a building’s wall, or large crevice in a cliff. Large nest boxes put up for other species, such as owls, will also be readily taken, plus, and notoriously, chimney pots on houses will also be used. Within the hole or other opening, the nest of the Jackdaw is constructed of twigs and then lined with wool and other soft material. The size of the nest varies considerably and can end up as an enormous structure, or just be a relatively small pile of twigs, and then lined. Incubation is by the female Jackdaw alone, though both parents feed the young. Jackdaws have one brood per year, with the clutch size usually being between four and six eggs, which are blue or blue-green in colour with darker speckles.
Jackdaw history and population trends
The population trend of the Jackdaw is very much on the up and has been since the 1970s. Although there is no firm evidence as to why this is, it is probably due to increased breeding success as a result of greater food availability – notably in gardens.
Behaviour traits of Jackdaws
The Jackdaw is a sociable bird and will not only form flocks of its own species outside of the breeding season, but also with Rooks, Starlings and the odd Carrion crow. Like all corvids, Jackdaws are highly intelligent and will problem solve to get to food. Jackdaws are also very loyal to their partner and will often mate for life, with an interesting and related behaviour being that the pair will often stay together – even when flying – in large winter feeding flocks.
Jackdaw diet and food
The diet of the Jackdaw is highly varied, with this being a factor in the bird’s success and relatively high population numbers. Food includes invertebrates and their larvae, seeds, nuts, fruit and carrion. Some young nestlings and fledgling of songbirds are also taken, but this is not a major food source. Although not generally a particularly welcome visitor to feeding stations, Jackdaws will eat almost any wild bird food available, and, despite their size, are able to cling onto peanut and suet ball feeders.
What should I feed Jackdaws?
Jackdaws will eat any type of bird food put out in a garden, and are even able to cling to mesh peanut feeders. You may or may not want to encourage Jackdaws – and if you don’t then caged feeders are the only real way to stop them from getting to food – but if you do then the following products will likely attract the species if they’re present in your area – with suet being especially appealing.
Bird Food
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of Jackdaws called UK?
The name given to a group of Jackdaws is a ‘clattering’. A ‘train’ or ‘band’ of Jackdaws is also used.
Do Jackdaws deter other birds?
Jackdaws can deter smaller birds on feeders and feeding stations, and especially when there is a group of them. This problem can be largely overcome by having at least some feeders which are caged and therefore only allow smaller songbirds in to feed.
Are Jackdaws rare in UK?
No, Jackdaws are not rare in the UK and there are around1.6m breeding pairs.
What does a Jackdaw eat?
Jackdaws have a very varied diet are and also highly opportunistic in their feeding behaviour. Their natural foods include insects and other invertebrates, birds’ eggs and young birds, fruit and seeds. In gardens Jackdaws will eat virtually all types of bird food put out, with suet being especially favoured.
What month do Jackdaws leave the nest?
Early June is when young Jackdaws usually leave their nests.
What is the difference between a Jackdaw, Crow and Rook?
The first thing to say is that a Jackdaw is a species of crow, and there isn't a species just called a crow - the name referring to a family of birds, with Corvid being another name used for the family. There is a species of bird called the Carrion crow, but this is easy to distinguish from a Jackdaw as it is much larger and is black all over, whereas the Jackdaw has distinctive grey on the back of its head and neck, Rooks are also a species of Corvid and often flock with Jackdaws, and are about the same size as Carrion crows. However, they are easy to identify from both Carrion crows and Jackdaws, by their heavy, pointed and straight grey bill.