Jackdaws, belonging to the genus Coloeus, comprise two closely related bird species, smaller in size compared to crows and ravens. Sporting a blackish crown, wings, and tail, these birds exhibit paler plumage throughout, with the name ‘Coloeus’ originating from the Ancient Greek term for jackdaws: koloiós (κολοιός).
In the classification realm, opinions diverge: while some consider Coloeus a subgenus of Corvus, others advocate for its status as a distinct genus within the Corvidae family. Notably, the International Ornithological Congress has reassigned the two jackdaw species from Corvus to Coloeus, as outlined in Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide.
The two species, western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) and its eastern counterpart, the Daurian jackdaw (Coloeus dauuricus), present distinguishing features. The former inhabits the British Isles, western Europe, Scandinavia, northern Asia, and Northern Africa, while the latter is found across China, eastern Siberia, and Japan. The western jackdaw appears larger with pale grey plumage, while its eastern counterpart exhibits almost white plumage areas and a darker iris. Despite their differences, these species share similar shapes, calls, and behavior, albeit not interbreeding in Mongolia where their ranges converge.
Remarkably, jackdaw feathers possess natural iron dun, making them rare and useful for various fly tying purposes like nymphs, emergers, Black Pennell wets, North Country spiders, and dapping flies.
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