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23

Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) Alternate name(s): "Eurasian Jackdaw", "European Jackdaw", "Jackdaw" German name(s): "Dohle" Size: 30-34 cm; wing span 64-73 m Weight: 175-280 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Western Jackdaws are the smallest corvids in Eurasia. Their plumage is not black, but has various shades of grey. The facial mask (frons, forehead, lores and chin patch) and the back, outer wings and tail are darkest-grey. Apart from a mid-grey chest band, vent and undertail coverts, the rest of the front is dark-grey. The back of the head, nape of the neck and mantle are a lighter shade of mid-grey. Nominate race "monedula" has a broken light-grey to off-white neck band, which none of the other races show. Their most distinctive feature is that they have light-grey irises, which can be seen from long distances and which differentiate them from other species that they may associate with. The short, nearly triangular bill is dark-grey. The legs and feet are also dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Western Jackdaw at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Western Jackdaw is available HERE . There are four races of Western Jackdaws. Overall, their range extends from the British Isles, most of Iberia and parts of the north-western African coastal fringe, via central Europe, the northern Mediterranean and the southern Baltic coastal fringe of Scandinavia into eastern Europe, to about Bielorussia and Ukraine, Asia Minor and the Caucasus into southern central Asia. They are not found in parts of Portugal and the highest areas of the Alps and the High Tatras. During the breeding season they extend their range further East, into central Russia and Mongolia. Part of the migratory population winter in the Euphrates/Tigris river lowlands in Iraq and others in an area from Afghanistan to the south-western Himalayas. In Europe, nominate race "monedula", is found in Scandinavia and eastern Europe. Race "spermologus" resides in central, western and southern Europe. Race "soemmerringii" is present from European Russia to Serbia and southern Romania. Western Jackdaws can live in a variety of habitats. They are very well adapted to the presence of humans and will nest in and around buildings, stay in parks and garden in townships and flock in winter around farms and other reliable food sources.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "monedula" D. Wilczynska reports spotting a flock of Western Jackdaws, nominate race "monedula", near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in January 2015. They were also found in Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in January/February 2017. M. Eaton reports finding Western Jackdaws, race "monedula", near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, in June 2018. Race "spermologus" C. Pears found Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", in Herculaneum, Campania, Italy, in April 2015. H. Dahlem-Senger reports finding Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", in Wittlich, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, in April 2018. Others were found along the German East Frisian coastline in June 2021. M. Thomas spotted Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in February 2019. H. Dahlem-Senger found the species at the same location in April 2021. J. Pires spotted Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", at the Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, in October 2018. More were found at the same location in October 2019. In (near-)coastal southern Portugal they overwinter and can congregate in significant numbers. J. Pires also found Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", in Madrid, Spain, and at Embalse de Arrocampo, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain, in December 2019, and at Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, Badajoz province, Spain, in November 2021. G. Normand reports spotting a Western Jackdaw, race "spermologus", at Parc Borely, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, in January 2021. In the past we used to see Western Jackdaws, race "spermologus", semi-regularly in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, e.g. in farming areas near Trier.

Photos

Race "monedula"

This race is also called the "Nordic Jackdaw".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw with its head turned towards the observer; note the conspicuous dark facial mask
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Western Jackdaw with its head turned towards the observer (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, February 2017]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw; note the light-grey crescent on the side of the neck that, depending on light conditions and posture, is not always visible, while in this perspective the facial mask is inconspicuous (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2017]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oslo airport, Oslo, Norway, June 2018]

Small flock of Western Jackdaws, together with two Hooded Crows (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Near-dorsal view of two Western Jackdaws, front, together with two Hooded Crows; note that the bird on the left visibly has a light-grey neck band (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Race "spermologus"

This race is also called the "Western Eurasian Jackdaw".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Parc Borely, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, January 2021]

Western Jackdaws foraging in recently disturbed soil (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Wittlich, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Western Jackdaw (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Western Jackdaw in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, Badajoz province, Spain, November 2021]

Behaviour

Western Jackdaws are the most sociable species of corvids in Europe.

Even though forming flocks outside the breeding season, pairs of Western Jackdaws, which mate for life, will stay close to each other all year round. Within flocks, pairs will usually still be recognizable. During the breeding season pairs will almost invariably roost and perch together.

Near-dorsal view of two Western Jackdaws (possibly a pair), front, together with two Hooded Crows
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Flock of Western Jackdaws on wall ledges (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]

Part of a flock of Western Jackdaws on wall ledges (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Jul

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 17 - 18 days

Fledging age: 32 - 33 days

Western Jackdaws have one clutch per season and when a clutch fails no second attempt is made that year.

Nest building: Male & female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket in hollow

Material: Sticks, dry leaves, hair, wool

Height above ground: ?

Western Jackdaw at the entrance to its nest hollow (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Herculaneum, Campania, Italy, April 2015]

Eggs

Size: 35 x 25 mm

Colour: Glossy pale-blue to off-white, with dark-grey speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Like all corvids, Western Jackdaws are opportunistic omnivores.

Small flock of Western Jackdaws, together with an Hooded Crow, trying to scavenge food from a farmer's heap of silage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Mob of Western Jackdaws foraging together (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Forte do Pessegueiro, Sines, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

jackdaw_dw_20210914.m4a	monedula (Poland)	Contact calls?	© DW
jackdaw_dw_20170112.m4a	monedula (Poland)	Contact calls?	© DW
jackdaw_dw_20170112_2.m4a	monedula (Poland)	Various	© DW
jackdaw_dw_20160523_2.mp3	monedula (Poland)	?	© DW
jackdaw_dw_20170201.mp3	monedula (Poland)	?	© DW
jackdaw_jp_20220922.mp3	spermologus (Portugal)	?	© JP

More Western Jackdaw sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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