The jackdaw is a useful bird. How to care for a jackdaw

The jackdaw is one of the representatives of the raven family. She is slightly smaller than a crow, but has a full build. Body length is 33−38 cm, weight 137−270 grams, span 64−75 cm. Males are larger than females. Sometimes it is mistaken for a crow because of its black color, although the color of the jackdaw's plumage is black with a dark gray tint. The beak is small, wide, covered in places with hard bristles. The tail is slightly rounded and narrow. Legs black. If the bird is excited, a tuft of fluffy feathers may form on the back of its head. The bird has brilliant wings and bluish eyes.

Jackdaw bird

In the sun, their wings shimmer blue. Juveniles have grayish plumage without reflection. The jackdaw makes a sound similar to “kai” or “kyaa”. Jackdaws can be seen in groups with rooks, crows and other birds. They like to nest in pairs, often in stone buildings. Birds are not afraid of the cold because of their thick and fluffy plumage.

The jackdaw has fascinated people since ancient times. Settlement near people craving for beautiful objects, sociability and domestication- all these characteristics are reflected in our culture.

The homeland of this bird is Western Eurasia and North Africa, mainly lives in small populated areas. Almost all of Europe, the western part of Asia, Tibet, and the Arabian Peninsula is filled with this species of bird. The natural habitat is sandy cliffs, meadows, fields, rocks. But the jackdaw can also be found in the Palearctic region, in the center of Altai. According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are more than 90 million jackdaws. A close relative of the common jackdaw is considered Daurian jackdaw, which is common in East Asia. Outwardly it looks like an ordinary jackdaw.

Character and lifestyle of the jackdaw bird

• Jackdaws are agile, noisy, intelligent and sociable birds. When flying, they are very decisive and maneuver well. A distinctive feature is their voice - it is sonorous and melodic. Among birds they communicate more closely with rooks. Jackdaws usually settle closer to humans and build nests in old and abandoned houses. So, it is easier for them to get food and communicate more than in the forest. If a jackdaw lives in the forest, it nests in old trees and hollows. They live in flocks in pairs, and when nesting time comes, they live separately from the flock.
• If there is free space, it is arranged in a cluster: from a few to several dozen pairs. In winter and summer, when breeding or feeding, the jackdaw can be found in the community of other individuals: rooks, starlings, pigeons and crows. In autumn and winter, birds gather in flocks that begin a nomadic lifestyle. In mixed flocks the number of birds can reach thousands of individuals.
• High degree The sociality of these birds is expressed in their aggression, which can be manifested in behavior within the nesting colony. An inclined beak, fluffy feathers on the head and back of the head, fluttering wings - all these signs indicate aggression towards a neighboring individual. If the subject dominates and does not retreat, a skirmish begins. These individuals have very good memory and developed intelligence. They remember well people who have destroyed their nests, and they scream loudly when they see them.

Features of reproduction

The birds are looking for a roommate Even in their youth and relationships last a very long time, they love to take care of each other. Sometimes you can watch them brush each other's feathers. Individuals without a pair stay alone. At the beginning of spring, couples begin their mating season. They begin to build nests and the jackdaws are very scrupulous about this matter. They build nests in places inaccessible to predators. Both male and female participate in nest construction. The material used is twigs and stems, and the structure is held together with manure and soil.

• In mid-spring, females begin to lay eggs. They lay three or more eggs. The color of the eggs can be greenish-brown or blue, with numerous inclusions. The pair takes turns incubating the chicks for 20 days.. After this, blind and naked chicks without feathers emerge from the eggs. A month later, the chicks are covered with feathers, but they are not yet ready for their first flight. To finally get stronger and leave the nest, they need another 15 days of full care. After departure, they move to fields and populated areas, where they mix with other birds and begin to lead a nomadic lifestyle.
• These birds can sometimes live in captivity if you take a small chick. They get used to people very quickly and always strive to communicate with their owner. Chicks eat a lot and often, so if you decide to get yourself a jackdaw, you will have to take intensive care of it. You can also teach her to talk, just like a parrot. Birds live a little longer in captivity than in wildlife.
• Semi- or fully migratory birds live in the north and east of Europe; the desire to migrate increases from south to north and from west to east. In England and France, jackdaws are sedentary, in Western Europe Mostly sedentary, but some migrate during the cold season. Most birds prefer to stay in their nesting areas if there is enough food. So it is impossible to say whether it is a migratory bird or a wintering one. It all depends on the environment.

Jackdaw feeding

The jackdaw bird is omnivorous, and its diet is varied. It feeds mainly on animal and plant foods. In summer it feeds on beetles, butterfly and fly larvae, ants, worms, snails and other invertebrates. Gets larger prey: mice, lizards. It feeds on carrion, but much less frequently. Among plant foods, he prefers cultivated plants and various berries. It can feed on food waste; the jackdaw can often be seen in garbage dumps.

Jackdaw / Coloeus monedula

It is more numerous within the cultural landscape than outside it. The jackdaw cannot be considered a true sedentary bird. In the European part of the country, some birds keep all year round in the nesting area, the majority migrate to more southern areas. At the same time, birds from northern regions fly to the middle zone, and those inhabiting the middle zone fly to the southern regions. Regular flights are observed in Western Siberia, Altai and in a number of other parts of the range. Jackdaws do not begin breeding very early. Full clutches in the southern parts of the range are observed from the first half of April, and in the northern parts - from mid-May and later. Jackdaw nests are placed in a wide variety of places: under the eaves of houses, in cracks and voids of buildings, in chimneys, behind store signs, in tree hollows, in holes and crevices of banks and rocks, in voids between stones, etc., and sometimes in rook nests and roller burrows. The same nest is used for several years in a row. Nests are located in small groups of 2-3 or dozens. Both sexes take part in the construction of a new nest and the repair of an old one. The clutch usually consists of 4-6, sometimes 7, bluish-green eggs with brownish spots concentrated at the blunt end. The female incubates for 18-20 days. Chicks appear on average from the end of April in the south, from the second half of May in middle lane. The chicks hatch at different latitudes from late May to late June - early July. After departure, jackdaws migrate in broods. In the second half of summer, they gather in flocks of hundreds and often lead a nomadic lifestyle together with rooks. Autumn migration occurs in November. In winter in major cities large flocks of jackdaws accumulate, which, together with crows, stay here until spring, flying in the mornings to the outskirts of the city and to the suburbs to feed, and in the evenings returning to the city to spend the night. The feeding pattern of the jackdaw is similar to that of the rook. In her stomach they found leaf beetles, ground beetles, elephant beetles, darkling beetles, beetles, gold beetles, and dipterous insects. Extermination harmful insects it brings undoubted benefits to agriculture.

Alpine jackdaw / Pyrrhocorax graculus

Daurian jackdaw / Coloeus dauricus

City dwellers are accustomed to seeing birds - jackdaws - feeding together with pigeons. However, not everyone knows interesting features their behavior and character. Meanwhile, these birds deserve attention - if only because they have been living next to humans for hundreds of years. In addition, they are not devoid of intelligence and can be tamed.

The jackdaw is the closest relative of the crow and rook. These birds are united by belonging to the same family - corvids of the passerine order. The jackdaw differs from its relatives in its smaller size.

Appearance

What does a jackdaw look like? It is the size of a pigeon, the body length from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail is 34-39 cm. The weight of the bird varies within 175-280 grams, in males it is slightly larger than in females. Other differences in appearance there is no difference between the sexes.

The jackdaw has a dense and strong body. The beak is relatively small but strong. The outfit is modest and does not differ in the variety of colors:

• the plumage is almost completely black;
• the lower body is black-gray (slate) in color;
• the back of the neck, the sides of the head and the back of the head are ash-gray:
• the cap on the head and the “face” are black;
• beak and legs are dark

In the sun, the back has a silvery color, and the wings and tail have a bluish metallic tint.

In this inconspicuous appearance, the bird’s eyes stand out - their attentive gaze is directed directly at the human eyes. This is rare for the animal world - representatives of the fauna for the most part avoid direct gaze. Sometimes it seems that the bird is not averse to posing for a photo shoot.

Iris of the eyes Jackdaws' eyes are usually white, but you can also find individuals with blue and even green eyes. A visual representation of the appearance of these birds can be obtained from their photographs.

In young birds, the plumage is smoky-gray, dull, and lacks shine and shimmer. But in the fall, the first moult takes place - and the young animals become similar to their parents.

Spreading

The jackdaw is a widespread bird. Its area of ​​residence covers all of Europe and Western Asia, with the exception of the northern regions. The bird can also be found in North Africa.

In the north and east of the range, the birds are migratory, for the winter moving to its southern regions. Most old individuals do not fly south for the winter, but remain in nesting areas, especially if there is enough food here.

It is worth noting that in East Asia, instead of the common jackdaw, its close relative, the Daurian jackdaw, lives. The two species have similar appearance and voice.

The number is stable and reaches 15-18 million individuals. Therefore, these birds are not yet endangered.

Nesting sites

Jackdaws are flocking birds. They settle in one place with several families at once, forming colonies. In this way they are similar to rooks, but unlike them, they choose places with shelters for nesting. They could be:

• hollows of old trees;
• niches and crevices in rocks;
• attics of buildings, chimneys, ventilation holes under the roofs of houses;
• billboards, store signs, water towers;
• burrows, old nests of other birds.

In the wild, jackdaws live on rocky coasts, steep banks and in open forests with old trees.

Jackdaws are attached to humans and therefore often nest in populated areas. But they prefer cities with old buildings. In the same city there will be more birds in areas with "Khrushchev" or two-story wooden houses . And in modern areas with panel and block new buildings suitable places There are no nests for making nests, so there are few jackdaws here.

Jackdaws also live in city parks and groves, finding shelter in the hollows of old trees. They often build their nests between the nests of rooks - this is how they protect their offspring from attacks by predators.

Behavior in natural habitat

Jackdaws live in flocks not alone, but in pairs. Birds live outside flocks only during nesting. Young birds that have not yet found a mate stay alone.

The flight of jackdaws is light, decisive and maneuverable. They are active and mobile, but at the same time quite cautious. Voice - distinguishing feature these birds: they make ringing, “booming” sounds, quite melodic.

Birds are not afraid of the cold thanks to the thick plumage. When sitting on a cornice or tree, they squat so that their paws sink into the fluff on their belly and thus warm themselves.

Jackdaws have an excellent memory: the one who was ruined back in childhood They will remember a person’s nest for the rest of their lives and, if it approaches, they will warn the flock of impending danger with their loud cry.

Nutrition

Jackdaws are omnivores, eating just about anything. They look for insect larvae in the bark of trees and readily eat earthworms, butterflies, beetles and other insects. They do not disdain human food waste - birds can often be seen in city landfills.

Jackdaws are aggressive: they attack small rodents, small birds, and eat bird eggs. If they live near the sea, they feed on crayfish, fish and various shellfish washed ashore at low tide. They also love plant food: berries, plant seeds.

These birds cause considerable damage to fields and vegetable gardens. They are not averse to profiting from pea and bean sprouts. People in the gardens do not miss the opportunity to enjoy their favorite plums and cherries. And on melon plantations, melons and watermelons are pecked, getting to their juicy pulp.

However, despite the damage they cause, birds also serve humans well, destroying harmful insects and rodents. So it is quite possible that the benefits of jackdaws outweigh the harm.

Reproduction

Even at a young age, birds find a partner; pairs are created once and for life. The relationship between the spouses is quite tender: the birds take care of each other and comb their feathers. You can often watch a male feeding his mate.

The mating season begins in March. Birds in April start building nests. The nest of jackdaws is rough, flat, made of twigs, leaves, paper and rags. To strengthen it, lumps of earth and animal feces are used. The bottom of the nest is lined soft materials: blades of grass, wool, down and feathers.

Jackdaws take a thorough approach to arranging a nest - after all, it can be used for several years. Not only males, but also females work on building a new nest or repairing an old one.

At the end of April - beginning of May, the jackdaw lays 4-7 eggs of a light blue or greenish-blue hue with brown specks. The incubation period lasts 17-20 days. The chicks that are born are naked and blind. Both parents feed the offspring. After a month, the young birds can already fly, but the couple continues to feed them for about two more weeks.

Only when young jackdaws have fully formed plumage do they begin an independent life. Birds unite in flocks, sometimes of enormous size (several hundred individuals). Jackdaws often mix with rooks.

Jackdaw and man

Since ancient times, jackdaws have lived side by side with humans. The bird is easy to tame if you take it as a chick. The jackdaw is sociable and strong gets attached to a person. But an adult will not be able to get used to life in captivity, because he knows what it is to fly freely across endless expanses.

If you take in a blind chick, it will become so accustomed to humans that it will not even mistake other jackdaws for relatives and will always strive to communicate with its owner.

When caring for a little jackdaw, you need to put in some effort. He requires frequent feedings, every 2 hours, which start in the early morning and continue until late in the evening. Chicks do not know how to swallow food, so their parents push it down their throats using their tongues. And a person has to use his finger for this.

Birds need a lot of space- to maintain activity and accordingly physical fitness. Therefore, it is best to keep the jackdaw not in the apartment, but in the country house or in country house. Here it is worth equipping an enclosure for her, the size of a small closet.

If you regularly work with your bird, repeating the same words loudly and clearly, it can learn to speak. And he will do it no worse than parrots.

In the wild, the lifespan of jackdaws is 8-10 years, and in captivity it is 15-17.

According to folk superstition, If jackdaw bird flew into the window, that's symbolizes the emergence of gossip around you or your family members.

Features and habitat of the jackdaw

An ignorant person very often does not distinguish between jackdaws, crows and rooks. In fact, they are even very noticeable. Jackdaw bird has small dimensions, from 30 to 35 cm, weighs about 250 g.

The weight of a jackdaw varies more than twice. The shortened wingspan can reach 60–70 cm. The jackdaw has a short thin beak and a small, narrow, evenly trimmed tail.

The bird has dense black plumage. The bird's neck is decorated with a collar gray. The tail, wings and top of the head are blue-purple with a metallic tint.

Pictured is an Alpine jackdaw

The bird's legs are black and its beak is dark. And the Alpine jackdaw has pink legs and beak yellow color. But the most amazing thing about the jackdaw is its eyes. The black pupil surrounded by a pale blue iris looks very beautiful and creates a feeling of expressiveness. There are birds with green eyes.

In my own way description of the bird jackdaw resembles a small, neat and beautiful children's toy. Today there are up to eight million couples. The bird's range is quite large - from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.

Largest quantity inhabits the western part of Eurasia (except for the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula). The jackdaw even settles in the northern part of the African continent.

Character and lifestyle of the jackdaw bird

Jackdaws can exist in a wide variety of biotopes. They settle depending on the availability of nesting sites and away from enemies. Jackdaws nest close to people.

This makes it easier to provide food. Main nesting sites – all kinds of buildings. As a rule, these are secluded corners. Jackdaws can be found almost everywhere. Human intimacy is related to big amount shiny objects, to which feathered kleptomaniacs are not indifferent.

Jackdaws also inhabit deciduous forests, cliffs near rivers, and mountainous areas. Nests are located in tree hollows, burrows, cracks in rocks and even in voids between stones. Sometimes abandoned nests of other birds are inhabited, as long as the size is suitable.

If we characterize what kind of bird is a jackdaw, then she is loud, nimble, sociable and smart. They form pairs, but can also gather in flocks of up to two hundred individuals.

Among other birds best friends. Their friendship is very touching. They eagerly await the arrival of rooks from wintering grounds to communicate and jointly search for food in barnyards, thawed areas, roads, fields and vegetable gardens.

The birds shout to each other using the characteristic “kaa-kaa” sounds. Jackdaws also sadly see off their friends when they fly away for the winter.

The jackdaws themselves can be nomadic, sedentary or migratory. Birds of the northern regions go to the southern regions for the winter in mid-autumn and return at the end of winter. The rest of the birds lead a sedentary lifestyle or wander.

Migrating jackdaws serve as harbingers of spring for northern residents. The flight of the jackdaw is uneven, it often flaps its wings, but it is more nimble than the crow. She long time can be in the air, showing acrobatic sketches.

The voice of the jackdaw bird sonorous and clear, similar to the chatter of “kai” or “kyarr”. Most likely, the name of the bird came precisely from the sounds it made. Jackdaws are a bird that tolerates captivity well.

If an adult bird is placed in a cage, it will never get used to it. And if buy a jackdaw bird Even as a chick and raised, she will consider you a relative and will communicate exclusively with people. A bird can become a cheerful, reliable and loyal friend.

A jackdaw can be tamed to emit human words. How well a bird can talk depends not on its ability, but on the amount of time spent on training.

Birds have good mental abilities. A captive-bred bird can be taught to fly out of a window so that it returns home. There is a belief that if this bird had a tongue, it would talk to a person.

Jackdaw feeding

The diet of jackdaws is very varied. IN summer period their diet includes: small vertebrates (field mice), spiders, insects, worms, mollusks. Birds cause damage to agriculture.

They peck at grain, peas, beans, can peck ripe melons and watermelons and eat their pulp, and peck berries from cherries, cherries or plums. However, the benefits are incredibly greater. After all, with spring warming, they destroy harmful insects, as well as their larvae. Carrion and weed seeds are used.

In autumn and winter periods jackdaws feed on seeds and berries. They are also not averse to destroying the homes of other birds, which they left unattended, and tasting their eggs or eating chicks.

But a landfill or trash can for jackdaws is a real feast. After all, it is there that there is an abundance of the most varied food. You can always have a tasty and satisfying meal.

If there is a lot of food, jackdaws prudently hide them in reserve. Good storage rooms tree roots or other secluded places serve. In bad weather or difficult times, such caches can always help out. If the food is too hard, the birds pre-soak it before eating.

Reproduction and lifespan of a jackdaw

At the end of winter and beginning of spring, the mating season begins for jackdaws. The males circle around the females and bow so that their beautiful gray neck is visible. The birds scream and fight loudly. The pair is formed for life; the female incubates the chicks in the same nest.

A couple repairs an old home or builds a new one from thin dry twigs and branches; in rural areas they can strengthen it with horse manure. Nests are furnished with delicate feathers and hairs, downy grass.

Jackdaws can land on sheep and pluck their wool to make bedding. The colonial style of habitation leads to a massive accumulation of nests, often numbering several dozen.

In mid-spring, 3 to 6 bluish-green eggs with brown spots appear in the nest. Eggs hatch for up to 20 days. At this time, complete calm reigns in the flock. The male mainly feeds and cares for the female, but may replace her for a short time.

The chicks emerge blind, helpless and with sparse fluff. They are taken care of by both parents, who make a lot of effort to feed the kids. The diet of babies consists of insects and worms.

Pictured is a jackdaw's nest

After a month, the chicks are still not flying, but look like adult birds. For another two weeks, the parents feed the grown chicks. After this period, they begin independent life. The oldest ringed jackdaw lived more than 14 years. In captivity, birds live up to 17 years.

Field signs. The color is black, grayish on the neck. Jackdaw and smaller in size than a crow. The body is dense, the beak is relatively short. The voice is pleasant - “ke-ke-ke” or “gal-ka... gal-ka.” Often jackdaws can be found near human habitation - in villages, in cities, especially in the cold season, when they gather in huge flocks and lead a nomadic lifestyle, meeting in fields, on roads, etc. places. Before the rooks fly away, they roam with them. The jackdaw walks and jumps very well. In winter they roam with crows to tall trees, in gardens and parks.

Area. Europe and Asia. In Norway and Sweden it goes up to about 64°, in Finland slightly north of 61° N. w. In the USSR it breeds north to Kem (flies to Kildin Island). Further, the northern border passes at Semzha and Mezen (Gladkov, 1951), through Ust-Tsylma, at Pechora it sharply descends lower to the northern parts of the middle. Urals (Syktyvkar, Berezovo, Cherdyn). From the Trans-Urals to the Yenisei, the northern border of the range requires additional clarification. Further to the east, the jackdaw is distributed north to the Zima region (Irkutsk region), the northern extremities of Lake Baikal, Olekminsk, the middle reaches of the Zeya, and the lower reaches of the Uda.

To the south from the border outlined above it goes to Morocco, northern Algeria, southern Italy and Sicily, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, northern Kashmir, Tibet, Mongolia. China.

Nature of stay. In the west and south - the jackdaw is a partly sedentary, partly migratory bird; in the north and east it is a breeding and migratory bird. In particular, East Siberian jackdaws in large number appear in winter in eastern China. In the European part of its range it occurs all year round. In Central Asia and the Caucasus, the jackdaw lives sedentary. But in winter, in some places and here, the movement of jackdaws within the nesting area has been noted.

Biotope. Cultural landscape; gardens and parks, adobe and station buildings, church bell towers and water towers. It also willingly settles outside cultivated areas - in the mountains and in coastal (rocky, loess) cliffs of river valleys, in forests and tugai forests, and also in ruins. In winter, jackdaws approach human habitation, accumulate near villages, and are found along roads, in landfills and near garbage dumps.

Vertically, the jackdaw goes from lowlands to 1000-1200 m, sometimes up to 2000 m (Tajikistan), 1500 m (Altai), 2500 m (Semirechye).

Number. The jackdaw is a common bird. Birds are more numerous within the cultural landscape than outside it. More numerous in the European part of the range than in Eastern Siberia. In Central Asia, the distribution is sporadic.

Subspecies and varying characters. The subspecies differ in coloration details, particularly in Eastern Europe and Western Siberia, Western Asia, individuals with a noticeable white “collar” predominate or are at least numerous; East Asian jackdaws, which were often considered special kind; They are dimorphic, except for birds of a gray color, “piebald” ones are often found. There are also ecological differences in the nature of their stay, details of nesting life, etc. 3 subspecies.

Reproduction. Sexual maturity occurs at two years of age, but in some cases at around one year of age. The pairs are permanent. In the same area, the breeding dates of jackdaws vary from year to year due to general meteorological conditions. Regarding the latitudinal difference in the breeding dates of jackdaws, there are the following general instructions: in the southern part of the range - clutches start from the 10th of April, in central Russia - at different times in April and the first ten days of May (Menzbier, 1895); in the more northern parts of the range (Scandinavia) - from the third week of May and later (Witherby, 1938).

Jackdaw nests are located in various places - in tree hollows (linden, willow, beech, pyramidal poplar, turanga, juniper, etc.), in holes and crevices along the banks of river valleys, in cracks in rocks and stone outcrops, in voids formed by from piles of stone fragments, under the eaves of houses, in destroyed buildings, in the walls of adobe buildings, in the bindings of metal spans railway bridges, on church bell towers, under a canopy water tower, V chimney, in cities behind various signs (of shops). Jackdaws also nest in old rook buildings and in roller burrows. The same nest is used for several years in a row. They nest in small groups of 2-3 pairs or dozens; for example, in the lower reaches or in one colony there were 20-30 pairs of jackdaws. Jackdaws often nest in a mixed colony with rooks, pigeons, kestrels, and falcons. Both the female and the male take part in the construction of a new nest and the repair of an old one.

The nest in hollows and crevices consists of thin twigs with a bedding of feathers, rags, wool, paper, plant debris, etc. In the lower reaches or nests of jackdaws were placed in deep hollows of turangas with a wide flight hole at various heights from the ground - a meter, more often 4-5 m (Dolgushin), sometimes near the ground (Zarudny, 1888). In the case where jackdaws use a rook's nest, it is carefully lined with a bedding of feathers, wool, etc.

The clutch usually consists of 4-6 eggs, often 7, sometimes 3; There are also indications of the presence of 8-9 eggs in the clutch. The interval between egg laying is 24 hours. The female incubates after laying all the eggs for 18-20 days. If the first clutch dies, a second clutch occurs, usually with a reduced number of eggs. The color of the eggs is bluish-green with greenish-brown spots; These spots are concentrated mostly at the blunt end of the egg. Dimensions: 25 eggs (5 clutches) 32.7-39.2x24.2-26.0 mm (Syr-Darya, Spangenberg, 1941); sizes of eggs found in Belarus: 32-36.5x23-26 mm (Shnitnikov, 1913); weight of two eggs: 0.95 and 0.93 g (Johansen, 1907).

If we do not take into account the secondary belated clutches, then we can say that the chicks hatch from the end of April in the south, in the middle zone - from the second half of May. However, fluctuations in withdrawal times can be significant. Departure of the young occurs in mid-June (Belarus), between June 8-13 (Smolensk region), June 5 (Oka), at the end of May (Chkalovsk region), in mid-May (Azerbaijan). The number of chicks in broods is apparently less than the number of eggs - usually 3-4. After departure, they roam in broods. In the second half of summer (from August), jackdaws gather in flocks of hundreds and often lead a nomadic lifestyle together with rooks.

Shedding. Partial molting in young ones occurs between June and September. The full annual period for adult birds is between July and September.

Nutrition. It often feeds together with rooks, forming common numerous flocks with them; in winter they feed together with crows in garbage dumps and landfills. The food consumed is, in general, the same as that of the rook. Of the 14 stomachs of jackdaws (11 young and 3 adult birds), 4 (28.6%) contained exclusively the remains of animal food (mainly beetles), and 10 stomachs (71.4%) contained mixed food. The analysis showed that jackdaws feed on leaf beetles (56.8%), ground beetles (36.5%), elephant beetles (36.5%), darkling beetles (21.3%), click beetles (7.1%), dung beetles and Khrushchev (7.1%) and goldfish (7.1%). Of the animal food, dipteran larvae and egg shells were also found in these stomachs. Plant food was represented by grains of oats, lentils, vetch and peas (Zubarev). The extermination of harmful insects brings undoubted benefits to Agriculture. Grains are collected in jackdaws in former stacks (oats), in old threshing grounds (lentils and oats) and in fields (lentils, peas). No digging of potatoes by jackdaws was observed (Kustanay region). Jackdaws, like rooks, harm melons and garden crops. Jackdaw chicks are fed, in particular, May beetles(Kuban). After the chicks have fledged, they feed in the fields, steppes and meadows, while additional feeding of the young continues (since June 15 in the Oksky Nature Reserve, Ptushenko).