Jackdaws in Scotland
When the Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) is present in Scotland, when it nests, and which native Scotland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Scotland
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–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 Scotland
The Jackdaw lives in Scotland all year round. Short days and regular snow inland; Scandinavian Bramblings, Fieldfares and Waxwings often arrive in numbers.
Cool maritime in the west, more continental and drier in the east; the Highlands are markedly colder.
Nesting in Scotland
In Scotland the Jackdaw usually nests May–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 Scotland plants for jackdaws
Of the native plants we track for Scotland, 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 Scotland all year?
Yes — the Jackdaw is resident in Scotland all year.
When do jackdaws nest in Scotland?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 17–18 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help jackdaws in Scotland?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Teasel, Common knapweed are native to Scotland and provide food or cover the Jackdaw uses.
Jackdaws in other countries
Other garden birds in Scotland
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.