Magpie jackdaw

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Magpie jackdaw
A group of Magpie Jackdaws (Coloeus dahuricus) in Beijing

A group of Magpie Jackdaws ( Coloeus dahuricus ) in Beijing

Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily : Corvoidea
Family : Corvids (Corvidae)
Genre : Jackdaws ( Coloeus )
Type : Magpie jackdaw
Scientific name
Coloeus duricus
( Pallas , 1776)

The Magpie Jackdaw ( Coloeus dauuricus , Syn. : Corvus dauuricus ) is a songbird art from the family of corvids (Corvidae). The 33 to 34 cm tall birds are characterized by black and white plumage, a relatively short beak and their squat appearance. The distribution area of ​​the species extends from the Himalayas to southern Siberia and Japan , with Siberia north of the Amur region only inhabited in summer, China south of the Yangtze , southern Korea and Japan only in winter. Their habitat includes open landscapes that offer breeding opportunities with old trees or cliffs and extensive areas with low vegetation for foraging. The magpie jackdaw feeds primarily on insects and seeds, but is basically an omnivore . Depending on the region, the species breeds from mid-February to June and prefers to build its nest in tree hollows.

The first description of the magpie jackdaw by Pallas comes from the year 1776. Its closest relative is the jackdaw ( Coloeus monedula ), with which it forms the genus Coloeus , the sister group of ravens and crows ( Corvus ). The population of the magpie jackdaw is estimated at a five- to six-digit number of breeding pairs and is classified as not endangered by BirdLife International .

features

Build and color

When fully grown, the magpie jackdaw reaches a body size of 33–34 cm and a wingspan of 67–74 cm. Like the jackdaw ( C. monedula ), it is smaller than the ravens and crows. Compared to larger species, it is mainly characterized by its short, stocky beak and its rather squat shape. There is a statistical difference in size between male and female magpie jackdaws. Males are on average larger and heavier than females, but the measurement ranges are largely congruent. Female magpie jackdaws have wings 211–232 mm long and their tails reach a length of 114–127 mm. The female barrel measures 42–47 mm, the beak of female birds is 30–35 mm long. Females reach a body weight of 175–235 g. The wings of the males are 220–244 mm long, their tail length is between 123 and 134 mm. The run of male magpie jackdaws reaches 43–47 mm, their beak is 32–37 mm long. The male weight is between 185 and 235 g.

Color drawing of a blackish magpie jackdaw
Immature Elsterdohle, drawing by Philipp Franz von Siebold . After the first moult, the species initially has largely black plumage.

There are no differences in color between the sexes. Adults have black nasal bristles , a black forehead and a black crown. The reins, throat and chest are also black. The ear covers are either grayish black or dashed white on a black background. The back of the head and coat of the magpie jackdaw are white. From there, a narrow white band runs on both sides over the sides of the neck to the white belly and the also white flanks. The coat, rump and upper tail-coverts, on the other hand, are black, as are the thighs, the lower-tail coverts and the control feathers . Hand and arm wings as well as shoulder pads are also colored black. A greenish to purple metallic veil extends over the black plumage parts in the freshly moulted plumage, while the white parts can appear gray. Intense sunlight causes the black feathers to turn brown over time and lose some of their shine. The eyes, beak, and legs of adult birds are black.

Young birds that have just flown out already resemble their parents in the pattern of their plumage. However, the colors are less contrasting, the black tends to be greyish and is speckled with white on the chest, while the white areas of the plumage appear dirty light gray. With the first moult, this plumage is completely lost and is replaced by largely black plumage. Subadult magpie jackdaws are very similar to jackdaws , but differ from them by their dark brown irises . A black bib is indistinctly visible on her chest. The ear covers are often dashed gray as in adult animals.

Flight image and locomotion

The magpie jackdaw moves lively and usually striding on the ground. In a hurry, she lapses into triple steps or hopping, and she often traverses rough terrain by hopping with the help of her wings. In flight it is characterized by great maneuverability and reaches higher speeds than larger ravens and crows.

Vocalizations

Magpie jackdaws are talkative and acoustically versatile crows. Their vocalizations are rather short and high compared to larger species. They are clearly similar to those of the jackdaw, but according to some authors they are a bit deeper and more croaking. The most common call is a choppy chack , the magpie jackdaw also often uses kjä and kija in many different variants.

distribution

Distribution of the magpie jackdaw

The magpie jackdaw lives in temperate Asia east of the Tibetan highlands . The breeding areas extend from the northern edge of the plateau and the eastern border of the Taklamakan northeast across the steppes of Mongolia to Lake Baikal . The northern border of the breeding areas roughly marks the beginning of the Siberian taiga .

nutrition

The menu corresponds to that of the jackdaw. Like these, it feeds on insects and other invertebrates, seeds, berries, and grains.

Reproduction

The magpie jackdaw builds its nest in tree hollows, crevices in the rock and in dilapidated buildings, but also relies on forked branches. The clutch consists of four to six eggs, the eggs are very similar to those of the jackdaw ( Corvus monedula ).

Sources and References

literature

  • Stanley Cramp , Christopher M. Perrins: Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic . tape 8 : Crows to Finches . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1994, ISBN 0-19-854679-3 .
  • Josep del Hoyo , Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal, José Cabot: Handbook of the Birds of the World . tape 14 : Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows . Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2009, ISBN 978-84-96553-50-7 .
  • Peter Simon von Pallas: Journey through various provinces of the Russian Empire in a detailed extract . tape 3 . JG Fleischer, Frankfurt and Leipzig 1778 ( full text [PDF]).

Web links

Commons : Magpie Jackdaw ( Coloeus dorturicus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Pallas 1778, p. 4.
  2. ↑ Cramp & Simmons 1994, pp. 142-143.
  3. ↑ Cramp & Simmons 1994, p. 141.
  4. ↑ Cramp & Simmons 1994, p. 142.
  5. ↑ a b Madge 1994, p. 138.
  6. ↑ Cramp & Simmons 1994, p. 140.
  7. ↑ Steve Madge: Crows and Jays. Bloomsbury Publishing, 1994, ISBN 978-0-71363-999-5 , p. 138.