Corvus monedula
We’ve all noticed these inquisitive birds—popping out of church towers, peering from chimneys, or strutting across gardens with quiet confidence. While some see jackdaws as a nuisance, anyone who takes a moment to watch them soon discovers they’re among the most fascinating and sociable members of the crow family, alongside magpies, carrion crows, ravens, rooks, and jays.
As jackdaws mature, they become especially distinctive. Their soft silver-grey nape contrasts beautifully with their darker body, and their pale, almost icy eyes give them a striking, alert expression. You’ll often spot them stepping lightly across lawns and fields, searching for beetles, insects, and scraps of both plant and animal matter. They pose little threat to other birds. They can even be helpful visitors, quickly clearing up leftover food before less welcome scavengers arrive.
Their name has an interesting origin: “jack” refers to their short, chattering call, while “daw” comes from a 15th-century word for the bird itself. Over time, they’ve picked up a variety of regional nicknames, including Caddow, Chauk, Jacko, Ka-wattie, Seacrow, and even “chimney sweep bird.”
Jackdaws are devoted partners. They usually find a mate towards the end of their first year. Their breeding begins in their second year perhaps a bit like an engagement period. Once paired, they stay together for life. Nests are often built close to others, forming loose, friendly colonies. Between April and May, the female lays a single clutch of 4–6 eggs, which she incubates for around 18 days while the male stands guard and brings food. The chicks fledge after about a month and become fully independent roughly five weeks later. In the wild, jackdaws typically live around five years.
Their social lives are surprisingly structured. Jackdaws have a clear hierarchy, and unpaired females sit at the bottom—last to access food or shelter, and often unable to challenge others. However, once a female forms a pair, she immediately shares her partner’s rank, highlighting just how important these lifelong bonds are.
Jackdaws have also woven themselves into folklore and tradition. In some places, a single bird perched on a roof was thought to signal either a new arrival or an impending death. In the Fens, spotting one on the way to a wedding is considered a good omen. The ancient Greeks even used them in a saying: “Swans will sing when the jackdaws are silent,” suggesting that wisdom speaks when foolishness falls quiet.
Their fondness for church steeples hasn’t gone unnoticed either. The 18th-century poet William Cowper described the jackdaw as “a great frequenter of the church, where bishop-like, he finds a perch—and a dormitory too.” In parts of Wales, this habit even led to the bird being considered sacred.
And finally, if you ever see a group of jackdaws together, you can impress your friends by knowing they’re called a train or a clattering—both names perfectly suited to their lively, sociable nature.
Thanks to Graham for inspiring a closer look at these charismatic birds—many people come away with a whole new appreciation once they do.
