Corvus monedula -- Linnaeus, 1758 ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- CORVIDAE Common names: Eurasian Jackdaw; Choucas des tours; Jackdaw; Western Jackdaw European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom Vagrant: Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland; Canary Is. (to ES); Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 9,930,000-20,800,000 pairs, which equates to 19,900,000-41,700,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 5,280,000-9,330,000 pairs, which equates to 10,600,000-18,700,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species inhabits a great variety of open country, preferably with scattered trees and it favours mixed farmland, parks and gardens, churchyards, wooded steppe, quarries and coastal cliffs (Madge and de Juana 2014). Across Europe it is only absent from high mountain plateaux, tundra, extensive wetland or afforested areas and a few small islands (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). The species forms a long term pair bond. Egg- laying occurs from late April in Britain and northern Europe, mid-April in central Europe, and the first half of May in north-west Russia. The nest varies in size, but can be massive as a fresh nest is built each year on top of older ones. The foundation is a mass of branches and twigs, interspersed with mud and dung and the inner cup is quite deep and thick and constructed of mosses, rotten wood, feathers and fur and wool, usually in some cavity of some kind. Clutches can be from three to eight eggs but usually four. It feeds mostly on the ground and is omnivorous. During the breeding season it is mainly carnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of invertebrates, eggs and household scraps (Madge and de Juana 2014). The species is sedentary in Britain but continental birds will undergo extensive south-westerly movements in autumn (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breeding Forest - Temperate suitable breeding Forest - Temperate suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable non-breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable non-breeding Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) suitable non-breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The species is now extinct in in Malta, where it was formerly common, as a result of persecution (Madge and de Juana 2014). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Very Rapid Declines Medium Impact (persecution/ control) Stresses Species mortality Conservation Conservation Actions Underway EU Birds Directive Annex II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species. Conservation Actions Proposed Although this species is not threatened, monitoring and hunting restrictions should be implemented to prevent local extinctions. Bibliography Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Madge, S. and de Juana, E. 2014. Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.). 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60768 on 9 March 2015). Map (see overleaf) .