Eurasian Jackdaw

Corvus monedulaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Crows and Jays (Corvidae)

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.

Listen:

Voice Text

"chack", "kow", "kyow"

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

Field Guide to Birds of North America