# Eurasian Jackdaw (*Coloeus monedula*) The Eurasian Jackdaw is a clever bird with shiny black feathers and bright blue eyes. They are known for their playful nature and love to explore their surroundings. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Eurasian Jackdaw](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coloeus_monedula_-Munkedal%252C_Vastra_Gotaland%252C_Sweden-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Karl Jonsson from Göteborg, Sweden, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coloeus_monedula_-Munkedal%252C_Vastra_Gotaland%252C_Sweden-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Jackdaw is a small, smart-looking crow with a glossy black body. It has a striking silver-grey nape and pale, almost white, eyes that make it stand out from other dark birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Corvidae - **Genus:** Coloeus ## Interesting facts - Jackdaws understand human pointing gestures, a rare skill for non-primates! - These birds often play by chasing and tumbling in the air just for fun! - They can drop nuts from high up to crack them open on hard surfaces! - They mate for life and are always seen in pairs within their big flocks! ## Special abilities - **Memory Masters:** Eurasian Jackdaws can recognize individual human faces, helping them remember who is friend or foe! - **Clever Communicators:** Eurasian Jackdaws use over 10 different calls to share complex information, like warning others of danger! - **Tool Users:** These clever birds have been observed using tools like sticks to pry food from cracks, showing their intelligence! ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 34-39 cm - **Wingspan:** 67-74 cm - **Weight:** 0.175-0.28 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-6 - **Incubation:** 17-18 days ## Diet & Feeding They are omnivores, eating almost anything from insects to seeds and human food scraps! - **Primary Foods:** insects, worms, seeds, fruits, eggs, food scraps - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buzzard) (*Buteo buteo*) — Buzzards sometimes prey on adult jackdaws or their young. - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Jackdaws forage for these ants and their larvae. - **Shelter:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Many jackdaws build their nests in the cavities of old oak trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Watch from a distance and don't feed wild birds, as they can become dependent on people. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Jackdaw? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eurasian Jackdaw? 34-39 cm ### What is Eurasian Jackdaw's wingspan? 67-74 cm ### How much does Eurasian Jackdaw weigh? 0.175-0.28 kg ### How long does Eurasian Jackdaw live? 5-15 years ### How fast can Eurasian Jackdaw move? 45 km/h ### What does Eurasian Jackdaw eat? They are omnivores, eating almost anything from insects to seeds and human food scraps! ### Where is Eurasian Jackdaw usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Knowsley Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knowsley-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Eurasian Jackdaw: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-jackdaw)