Skip navigation

Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Jackdaw foraging on a lawn in a city park. Photo Aaro Toivio.

General information. The jackdaw is a characteristic species of cultural landscapes within its entire distribution area. The jackdaw is known as ‘kirkhakkinen’ (church nester) in old spoken Finnish, suitably describing their preference for nesting in church bell towers. The nesting population has grown significantly over the past few years.

  • Length 34 cm
  • Nests in nesting boxes, cavities in buildings, chimneys etc
  • Primarily sedentary species
  • Feeds on seeds, worms, insects, scraps, rodents etc

Habitat. The jackdaw is mainly found nesting in attics in old buildings or other structures in the cityscape. It also has a tendency to nest in tree cavities fringing parks. Similar nesting habits are displayed in the countryside, where the jackdaw ventures into buildings, attics and chimneys. Sizeable nesting boxes are, however, also suitable.

Distribution in Vaasa. The jackdaw is a vital part of Vaasa’s cultural landscape. The species distribution traces the edges of built up areas relatively evenly, with some odd pairs found nesting in nearby forest areas. The main concentration of the jackdraw, however, is found in the city and village areas. It is possible to observe the lives of the jackdaws, for example, in the parks in Vanha Vaasa, where large groups of pairs nest in a small area.