Witness Who Wins in This Jackdaw vs Seagull Agility Competition

There is such a difference between the methods these two birds use as they try to retrieve a wafer from a roof ledge. The seagull uses a smash-and-grab technique, landing clumsily, missing its targeted wafer completely, falling off the ledge, and knocking off a second wafer on the way down! Meanwhile, the jackdaw places its feet in the perfect spot on the ledge to reach forward and collect the wafer in its beak and neatly push back off into the air. And the winner of the agility competition is…the jackdaw!

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What Exactly Are Jackdaws?

Jackdaws are dark birds in the Corvid (crow) family with their own genus – Coloeus. There are actually two recognized species. The first is the western jackdaw (also called the Eurasian jackdaw), with a range between Western Europe and Central Asia. The other is the Daurian jackdaw, which is found just in eastern Asia. There are also several subspecies.

These are the smallest members of the Corvid family and measure no more than 13 inches in height. They usually weigh around 8 ounces. Jackdaws have dark plumage, but the western jackdaw has paler feathers around their head and neck. These birds are often mistaken for crows, but crows are larger, have darker plumage, and do not have paler plumage around the neck.

How Do Jackdaws Normally Behave?

Jackdaws form mating pairs that usually stay together for life. However, they roost and feed in larger groups. These can contain up to a thousand birds. Jackdaws have a reputation for being highly intelligent. They can use tools and solve problems. The bird in this clip would have no problem working out how to retrieve the wafer.

What Do Jackdaws Normally Eat?

These birds are omnivores and very flexible with their food preferences. Their diet includes invertebrates, fruits, and seeds. They also eat carrion and will help themselves to human garbage. Interestingly, they adapt their diet to suit their location and the season. Usually, they look for food on the ground – they are a common sight in parks and gardens. You will often see them looking for food in pairs or in small groups. If one jackdaw finds a good supply of food, it will return and will often bring its friends with it!

How to Attract Jackdaws

If you want to attract jackdaws to your garden feeder, you could try peanuts, fat balls, and suet. Many of them also love mealworms!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Alex Cooper