Corvus monedula (Western Jackdaw)

6/12/17 Leeds Castle, Kent, England

 6/12/17 Leeds Castle, Kent, England

6/12/17 Leeds Castle, Kent, England

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Jackdaw

SPECIES: Corvus monedula

FAMILY: Corvidae (Crows, Jays & Magpies)

LIFE LIST DATE: 6/12/2017

LOCATION: Leeds Castle, Kent, England, UK

From Wikipedia:

The western jackdaw is found from north-west Africa through all of Europe, except for the extreme north, and eastwards through central Asia to the eastern Himalayas and Lake Baikal. To the east, it occurs throughout Turkey, the Caucusus, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and north-west India. It is the second smallest member of the genus Corvus. Most of the plumage is a shiny black, with a purple sheen on the crown, forehead and secondaries, and a green-blue sheen on the throat, primaries and tail. The cheeks, nape and neck are light grey to silver-grey, and the underparts are slate-grey.

Western jackdaws inhabit wooded steppes, pastures, cultivated land, coastal cliffs, and towns. They thrive when forested areas are cleared and converted to fields and open areas. Habitats with a mix of large trees, buildings, and open ground are preferred.