Corvus monedula
A small, sociable crow with striking pale eyes.
Size: 34 cm | Habitat: Park & Woodland-Edge Birds | Season: All year
The smallest and most sociable UK crow, the jackdaw has glossy black plumage, a silvery-grey nape, and pale, almost white eyes that give it a sharp, alert expression.
Black body with grey nape and cheeks · pale silvery eyes · smaller and neater than a crow · quick, chattering 'chack' call
Jackdaws form strong pair bonds for life and gather in noisy flocks, often with rooks. They nest in cavities, from tree holes to chimneys, and are notably curious around people.
Jackdaws can understand human eye-gaze direction, following where a person is looking — a rare skill outside of primates.
The Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is the smallest and most sociable UK crow, with glossy black plumage, a silvery-grey nape, and strikingly pale, almost white eyes that give it an alert, intelligent expression. Its quick, chattering 'chack' call is usually the first sign of a jackdaw flock nearby.
Jackdaws form lifelong pair bonds and nest colonially in cavities ranging from tree holes to chimneys and church towers, often mixing with rooks in large winter roosts and feeding flocks. Recent research has shown that jackdaws can follow human eye-gaze direction to work out where a person is looking, a cognitive skill otherwise rare outside primates.
Understanding the jackdaw reveals how strong pair bonds, colonial nesting, and unusually sophisticated social cognition combine to make this small crow one of Britain's most successful and interesting corvids.
🟢 Conservation status: Green (UK Birds of Conservation Concern 5)
Green-listed, with a UK population that has increased steadily in recent decades. Jackdaws benefit from a varied, opportunistic diet and a willingness to nest in buildings as well as trees, making them adaptable to changing landscapes.