ROOK, CROW AND JACKDAW

Who are all these black birds pecking at the soil on the playing field?  Rather scruffy with shaggy black trousers and a dirty white base to the bill,  these are the rooks.  They are noisy birds when they get together in their rookeries, where several pairs nest in the same group of trees.   The collective noun is a parliament of rooks.  They are always gossiping or insulting each other - a continual racket if you live near a rookery.

Photo: north-east wildlife

  Usually you notice rooks building their nests in the New Year but here in Thornbury they have started already.   Unfortunately the winter winds will undo a lot of their handiwork, or should I say beakywork.  

Rooks are more upright than crows but crows are a bit sleeker and tidier and their heavy beaks are all black.  When a crow calls it takes a high perch and utters about three loud 'kaa' sounds, bowing down with each one.

Photo: trotrog blog

You may find a few crows on the ground with the rooks, but it is mostly jackdaws that flock with the rooks.  Crows are not so gregarious.   Jackdaws are smaller, chunkier birds with a golden eye, black cap, grey neck and black wings and tail.   

Photo: ebird

Jackdaws are aerobatic fliers round the chimney pots.  When they and the rooks are flying in flocks or foraging on the ground, I have noticed recently that many of them stick together in pairs.  Rather sweet.