A Bit of a Rogue

A beautiful jackdaw seen this afternoon on my walk.

I think I like jackdaws because they are small and sociable; when you see them they are usually in pairs looking very friendly, as they mate for life. These clever little birds have a reputation for being able to mimic human speech and occasionally indulge in tumbling acrobatics in the sky.

Omnivores, eating small animals and insects, seeds and fruit they also steal eggs and chicks when given the opportunity. Hiding useless inedible objects also adds to their reputation. Definitely bit of a rogue and a thief but quite a little character!

They like nesting in chimneys, tree-holes, caves and rock crevices usually in flocks but can become quite a pest and as such can be shot as vermin. On the up-side they in turn control the breeding of other birds in the cities such as pigeons by their egg stealing.

'Daw' is the native English name for bird, 'Jack' means small.