Size: The western jackdaw measures 34–39 centimetres in length and weighs around 240 grams.

Vocalisations: The main call, frequently given in flight, is a metallic and squeaky chyak-chyak or kak-kak. This is a contact or greeting call. Western jackdaws also have a hoarse, drawn-out alarm call, arrrrr or kaaaarr, used when warning of predators or when mobbing them.

Habitat: Habitats with a mix of large trees, buildings, and open ground are preferred. Some western jackdaws spend the winter in urban parks.

Behaviour: Opportunistic and highly adaptable, the western jackdaw varies its diet markedly depending on available food sources. Western jackdaws are opportunistic and highly adaptable omnivores. They feed on beetles, spiders, snails, small rodents, bats, the eggs and chicks of birds, and carrion such as roadkill. Vegetable items consumed include farm grains (barley, wheat, and oats), weed seeds, elderberries, acorns, and various cultivated fruits. Highly gregarious, western jackdaws are generally seen in flocks of varying sizes, though males and females pair-bond for life and pairs stay together within flocks. Western jackdaws are monogamous breeders; they mate for life and pairs always stay together within flocks. They usually breed in colonies with pairs collaborating to find a nest site, which they then defend from other pairs and predators during most of the year. They nest in cavities in trees or cliffs, in ruined or occupied buildings, and in chimneys. The female lays 4-5 eggs which are smooth, a glossy pale blue or blue-green with darker speckles ranging from dark brown to olive or grey-violet. In Latvia, there are 10,000-50,000 couples.

Photo: pixabay.com