Jackdaws in Northern Ireland
When the Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) is present in Northern Ireland, when it nests, and which native Northern Ireland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Northern Ireland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 34 cm, 240 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect jackdaws in Northern Ireland
The Jackdaw lives in Northern Ireland all year round. Rarely severe; winter thrushes and finches from Scandinavia and Iceland arrive from October.
Mild, wet and windy maritime climate with few temperature extremes.
Nesting in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland plants for jackdaws
Of the native plants we track for Northern Ireland, these 8 provide food the Jackdaw uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
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 Northern Ireland all year?
Yes — the Jackdaw is resident in Northern Ireland all year.
When do jackdaws nest in Northern Ireland?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 17–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help jackdaws in Northern Ireland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Teasel, Common knapweed are native to Northern Ireland and provide food or cover the Jackdaw uses.
Jackdaws in other countries
Other garden birds in Northern Ireland
Sources
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.