Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Coloeus monedula
Family: Corvidae
Size: 33-34 cm (13-13.4 inches)
Wingspan: 67-74 cm (26-29 inches)
Weight: 220-270 g (7.8-9.5 oz)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Least Concern
UK Status: Green List
Population Trend: Stable to increasing in the UK

Worldwide Distribution

The Western Jackdaw can be found in:

Throughout Europe, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean
Western Asia, extending to Iran and Afghanistan
Northwest Africa
Year-round resident throughout the British Isles
Introduced to some areas of North America (unsuccessful establishment)
Present in all UK counties

Spotting Difficulty Rating

🔍🔍 (2/5 – Easy)

Distinctive size and shape within the crow family
Highly social and often conspicuous
Characteristic pale eyes easily visible
Regular presence around towns, churches, and cliffs

Habitat and Behavior

The Western Jackdaw is Britain’s smallest member of the crow family, instantly distinguishable by its compact size, distinctive grey nape and ear coverts, and striking pale grey-blue eyes that give it an almost intelligent, knowing expression. Adults display glossy black plumage with a characteristic grey “shawl” across the back of the head and neck, while juveniles appear duller with darker eyes that gradually lighten with age.

These highly social and intelligent birds are rarely seen alone, typically moving in pairs or small flocks that often join with other corvids in mixed feeding assemblies. They show remarkable adaptability in habitat choice, equally at home on coastal cliffs, in ancient woodlands, urban parks, farmland, and historic buildings. Their preference for nesting in cavities makes them particularly associated with old churches, castles, and traditional buildings with suitable crevices and holes.

Jackdaws are accomplished aerial acrobats, frequently seen performing playful tumbling flights and engaging in what appears to be pure aerial play, especially during windy conditions. Their flight is more buoyant and agile than their larger corvid relatives, with quicker wingbeats and greater maneuverability. They exploit a diverse diet, foraging on the ground for invertebrates, seeds, and scraps, while also taking eggs and nestlings during breeding season.

Their intelligence rivals that of their larger cousins, demonstrated through tool use, problem-solving abilities, and complex social behaviors. Jackdaws form lifelong pair bonds and maintain sophisticated social hierarchies within their colonies. They communicate through a varied vocabulary of calls, from the characteristic sharp “chack” that gives them their name to softer contact calls and alarm notes. Their most endearing trait may be their apparent playfulness – they’ve been observed sliding down snowy roofs, playing with objects, and engaging in what can only be described as games with their flock mates.

Cultural History

The Jackdaw holds a unique position in British folklore and literature, often portrayed as the clever trickster of the corvid family. Their association with churches and abbeys led to numerous medieval legends about their supposed ability to predict deaths or carry souls to the afterlife. Unlike their larger relatives, however, Jackdaws generally escaped the darker superstitions, often being viewed as mischievous rather than malevolent.

The species gained lasting literary fame through Rev. Richard Barham’s 1840 poem “The Jackdaw of Rheims,” part of “The Ingoldsby Legends,” which tells the tale of a jackdaw that steals a cardinal’s ring and is subsequently cursed and blessed by the church. This humorous narrative captured the bird’s reputation for both kleptomania and intelligence, traits that had been noted in folklore for centuries.

In rural Britain, Jackdaws were traditionally considered weather prophets, with their behavior supposedly predicting storms and seasonal changes. The saying “When jackdaws gather in great flocks, expect rain or tempestuous weather” reflects generations of countryside observation. Their habit of gathering twigs and dropping them from heights led to the belief that they were “testing the wind” for weather changes.

Victorian naturalists were particularly fascinated by Jackdaw intelligence and social behavior. Gilbert White wrote extensively about their “matrimonial attachment” and social structures, while later observers documented their tool use and problem-solving abilities. Their urban colonization during the Industrial Revolution made them symbols of adaptation and resilience.

In modern times, Jackdaws have become emblematic of the positive relationship possible between humans and wildlife, often cited as examples of successful urban adaptation while maintaining their wild nature.

Fun Facts

🧠 They’re among the most intelligent birds, capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors and using tools

👥 They mate for life and can live over 20 years, maintaining complex social relationships

👁️ Their pale eyes are unique among British corvids and may help with social communication

🏰 They show remarkable loyalty to nest sites, with some church colonies being occupied for centuries

🎪 They perform aerial acrobatics purely for play, especially enjoying windy weather

🔊 The name “Jackdaw” comes from their distinctive “chack-chack” call combined with “daw,” an old word for jackdaw

💍 They’re notorious for collecting shiny objects, leading to countless stories of stolen jewelry

🏃 Young Jackdaws engage in “play fighting” and games that help develop social bonds and skills

Best Places to Spot a Jackdaw in the UK

Canterbury Cathedral, Kent – famous breeding colony
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire – historic nesting site
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland – cliff and building nesters
Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire – coastal colonie alongside seabirds
New Forest, Hampshire – woodland and heathland populations
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset – limestone cliff colonies
Durham Cathedral – urban cathedral population
Any historic market town with old churches and buildings

Recommended Viewing Tips

Look for them around church towers, castles, and old buildings
Best observed during morning and evening activity periods
Watch for their distinctive bouncing flight and aerial play
Listen for their sharp “chack” calls echoing around buildings
Coastal cliffs provide excellent viewing of natural colonies
Winter flocks often feed in fields with other corvids
Their pale eyes are distinctive when viewed through binoculars
Spring offers best opportunities to observe courtship and nesting behavior

Conservation Notes

While currently stable, Jackdaws face some modern challenges:

Loss of traditional nest sites through building renovation and modern construction methods
Reduced invertebrate prey in intensively managed farmland
Disturbance at colonial nest sites, particularly in tourist areas
Climate change potentially affecting food availability during breeding season
Provision of nest boxes can help where natural cavities are lost
Maintaining old buildings and trees with suitable holes supports breeding populations
Their adaptability and intelligence help them cope with environmental changes
Citizen science projects monitor urban and rural population trends