Western jackdaw

Scientific name: Coloeus monedula

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

A compact corvid with glossy black plumage and distinctive pale grey-white nape and ear-coverts. Adults show bright pale eyes (whitish or pale grey) and a relatively short, pointed bill; sexes are similar in plumage but males average slightly larger.

Size and weight

Males 34–39 cm body length, 180–250 g; females 33–37 cm, 160–220 g.

Habitat

Western jackdaws favour open and semi-open country including grasslands, cultivated fields, moorland edges, and rocky outcrops. They also inhabit coastal cliffs, parkland, and areas near human settlements from lowland to montane zones.

Distribution

Widespread across western and central Europe from southern Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and eastward into Russia. Prefers open mixed farmland, grassland, and rocky terrain; less common in dense forest.

Diet

Omnivorous, taking insects (especially beetles and grasshoppers), seeds, grain, berries, and carrion; opportunistically scavenges food near human habitation and feeds heavily on invertebrates during breeding season.

Behaviour

Highly social and gregarious, often seen in small to large flocks; diurnal and crepuscular, most active in early morning and late afternoon. Flight is quick and agile with characteristic rolling calls; roost communally and may travel several kilometres daily between feeding and roosting sites.

Hunting tips

Look for droppings and feeding sign in pastures and cultivated ground; birds typically move between roosting sites at dawn and dusk along predictable flight lines. Approach from downwind in open terrain or use cover of buildings and hedgerows; birds are wary but may be decoyed with calls. Early morning or late afternoon provides optimal light and activity.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.