Species of the month

Smaller than their rook relatives and crow cousins, jackdaws have grey ‘shawls’, black caps and pale ‘steely’ eyes.

Jackdaws enjoy a varied diet; tucking into insects, fruit, seeds and scraps. Being resourceful birds, they will also eat carrion and occasionally take young birds and eggs.

In winter, jackdaws join rooks and crows in large feeding flocks.

Jackdaws ‘find love’ in their first year and you can often see these young couples flying around together.

Jackdaws would naturally nest in tree holes and rock crevices but, when these resources are scarce, these adaptable birds will also use buildings and chimneys.

Jackdaws often mate for life and both are dedicated parents, working together to rear their young.

Jackdaws roost in woodlands and frequently perform a community ‘sky dance’ before settling down for the night.

On average, jackdaws live for five years, but one ringed bird was found to be 18 years old!

• The jackdaw call is a hard 'tchack', which sounds like they are all looking for ‘Jack’. You can hear their sharp calls amongst the croaks of nearby crows here.

• Due to their distinctive, mechanical calls and noisy gatherings, a group of jackdaws is called a ‘clattering’ or ‘train’.

• Like all corvids, jackdaws are very intelligent. There is even evidence to suggest they use their bright eyes to communicate with each other; something it was thought only primates could do!

Due to their adaptability and resourcefulness, jackdaws are widespread and common across much of the UK. These sociable and entertaining birds frequently roost in trees and can often be seen in fields, woods, parks, gardens and towns. 

Jackdaws will happily feed on bird tables and, despite their size, are agile enough to eat from bird feeders. Although they can be seen in gardens all year, jackdaw numbers are greatest when the adults are searching for food to feed their hungry brood in early summer.