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Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Description:

The Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or simply Jackdaw, is a passerine bird in the crow family. Found across Europe, western Asia and North Africa, it is mostly resident, although northern and eastern populations migrate south in winter. Four subspecies are recognised, which mainly differ in the colouration of the plumage on the head and nape. Linnaeus first described it formally, giving it the name Corvus monedula. Later analysis of its DNA shows that, with its closest relative the Daurian Jackdaw, it is an early offshoot from the genus Corvus, and possibly distinct enough to warrant reclassification in a separate genus, Coloeus. The common name derives from the word "jack", meaning "small", and "daw", the native English name for the bird.

Habitat:

Measuring 34–39 centimetres (13–15 in) in length, the Western Jackdaw is a black-plumaged bird with a grey nape and distinctive pale-grey irises. It is gregarious and vocal, living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings.

Notes:

These Jackdaws live near a playschool that owns chicken, turkeys and goats. They know that they will always find food there, so sometimes they just sit on the tree stumps and wait. That makes it easy to get nice pictures of them.

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2 Comments

Maria dB
Maria dB 11 years ago

great series and nice description of where you can see them!

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 11 years ago

Nice capture,

Brinschk
Spotted by
Brinschk

Münster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Spotted on Jun 28, 2012
Submitted on Jun 29, 2012

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crows Crow American Crow Crow

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Western Jackdaws European Rabbit (Juvenile) Common Wood Pigeon European Goldfinch

Reference

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