Daurian Jackdaw

Corvus daurica (Pallas, 1776)

		dark morph
2014-05-04 Tydtuyaryk, Chuya Steppe, Altai Republic. 2020-09-08 Altai Republic	© Sergey Pisarevskiy © Denis Zhbir

Description

Daurian Jackdaw is similar to Western Jackdaw, some lesser, with dark-brownish eyes. There are two color morphs. Birds of light morph have pale grey almost white underparts, nape, rear-neck and neck-flanks. Birds of dark morph are distinguished from Western Jackdaw by black underparts and barely pale head. Hybrids between two morphs exist. Juveniles are mostly similar to adults of dark morphs, but individual variability is very wide. In some opinions the morphs are the age phenomenon: birds of light morph are adults, but birds of dark morph are first-year birds (it is strange that it is not explore so far). Weight 120-200 gr, length 28-30, wing 21.3-23.8, wingspan 60-70 cm.

Biology

Daurian Jackdaw is rare winter visitor. In Kazakhstan occurs singly or in small groups with flocks of Western Jackdaw and Rooks.

References