Austria · Resident all year

Jackdaws in Austria

When the Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) is present in Austria, when it nests, and which native Austria plants supply the food it depends on.

Status in Austria
Resident all year
Nesting season
April–June
Size
34 cm, 240 g
Nest box
Does not use enclosed boxes

When to expect jackdaws in Austria

The Jackdaw lives in Austria all year round. Cold, snowy winters, especially at altitude.

Continental and Alpine; most of the country is mountainous.

Nesting in Austria

In Austria the Jackdaw usually nests April–June. Nest site: holes, chimneys and cliffs. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 17–18 days; chicks fledge after 28–35 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.

  • The Jackdaw does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
  • Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Native Austria plants for jackdaws

Of the native plants we track for Austria, these 8 provide food the Jackdaw uses:

Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna · Shrub

Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.

Ivy
Hedera helix · Climber

Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.

Elder
Sambucus nigra · Shrub

Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.

Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa · Shrub

Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.

Bramble
Rubus fruticosus agg. · Shrub

Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.

Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum · Perennial

Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.

Wild cherry
Prunus avium · Tree

Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.

Crab apple
Malus sylvestris · Tree

Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.

Feeding in the garden

Omnivorous.

  • Best foods: Suet, Kitchen scraps.
  • Feeders: Open table.
  • Fit chimney guards — Jackdaws nest in chimneys.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked

Are jackdaws in Austria all year?

Yes — the Jackdaw is resident in Austria all year.

When do jackdaws nest in Austria?

Typically April–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 17–18 days, with 1 per year.

Which native plants help jackdaws in Austria?

Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Bramble, Teasel, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Austria and provide food or cover the Jackdaw uses.

Jackdaws in other countries

Other garden birds in Austria

Sources

  1. Jackdaw — RSPB bird guide
  2. Jackdaw — BTO BirdFacts
  3. BirdLife Österreich — Brutvogelatlas

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.