Rook & Jackdaw

Animals of Iveragh

17 Dec

The Rook (Rúcach) and the Jackdaw (Cág) are two very social species of crow. They spend a large share of their time in the company of members of their own species, as well as other crows. You will often see large ‘parliaments’ of rooks foraging or nesting beside equally large ‘clatterings’ of jackdaws.

Rook - Rúcach

Although the rook shares many similarities with other crows, there are some distinct features that help to tell it apart. Rooks have paler faces and a slender beak that is usually a lighter colour than ravens or carrion crows. They have a steep forehead leading to a pointed crown. Also look for the 'baggy trousers' that set them apart from other crows.

Where do they live? What do they eat?

The colonial nest sites of rooks, or ‘rookeries’, are commonly found in the tops of trees in towns, villages, and the wider countryside. Anyone familiar with these nest sites will know of the raucous behaviour as the chattering tenants settle in for the night!

Like many other crows, the rook’s diet is considerably varied. They feed on small worms and insects, small animals, carrion and many varieties of plant material, including crops. Rooks’ nests are built or repaired year after year in preparation for the breeding season from February-April. They use a variety of building materials such as sticks, twigs and roots, which are further reinforced by dry grasses, leaves and moss. The average life span of a rook ranges from 6-7 years.

Footage of a rookery.

Myths, legends and folklore surrounding the rook

Where rooks appear in folklore, they are mostly portrayed as a bad omen, associated with death, or with trickery. The rook’s Latin name ‘Corvus frugilegus’, means ‘fruit-gathering raven’, coming from their tendency to feed on crops, fruit and other plant material. As a result, rooks are the most likely culprit that led to farmers’ widespread use of scarecrows.

Ireland has a large population of rooks that is widespread across the landscape. Iveragh is no exception, with large flocks to be seen foraging alongside jackdaws in sheep and cattle-grazed pastures. If you are passing through Ballinskelligs Village or Chapeltown on Valentia Island on a winter evening, rookeries may well be holding parliament in the treetops surrounding the villages.

Jackdaw - Cág

Owing to the Jackdaw’s (Cág) mischievous nature and alleged fondness for stealing coins and other trinkets, its Latin species name of ‘monedula’ derives from the stem ‘moneta’ meaning ‘money’. We will have more to say on the jackdaw’s exploits in the folklore section below!

Jackdaws are a little bigger than a magpie and smaller than a rook. They are very vocal, so you will often hear their high-pitched calls ringing around the countryside. The jackdaw’s body appears entirely black or as a dark shade of grey, while the back of their head and neck are a lighter silver/grey.

Where do they live? What do they eat?

Jackdaws are a generalist species, meaning they are capable of successfully exploiting a wide range of habitat types. As such, they can be found in towns, villages, woodlands and the wider agricultural and coastal landscapes. They often nest on cliffs and in trees, abandoned houses, chimneys, and cliffs. Jackdaws make their nests from a variety of materials, including twigs, mud, dung, moss, feathers, wool and fur. Male and female jackdaws form a long-term pair bond in their first year and go on to breed in the subsequent year. Their nest is built or repaired in time for the breeding season in mid-April.

Jackdaws roosting in woods.

They are also very social corvids. They spend a large portion of their time feeding and roosting together in parks, gardens, pastures, crop fields, and along the tideline of beaches. Jackdaws frequently forage alongside rooks and often build their nests near rookeries. As generalists, their diet includes fruits, seeds, invertebrates, carrion, scraps and eggs.

Myths, legends and folklore surrounding the jackdaw

In folklore, the jackdaw has been widely regarded as a foolish, vain and mischievous bird, often alleged to have had an inkling for thievery. This is well captured by R.H Barham’s ‘The Jackdaw of Rheims’. This whimsical legend details the journey of a jackdaw from a cursed thief (for having stolen a Cardinal’s ring) to a saint.

The Ancient Greek saying of: “The swans will sing when the jackdaws are silent” suggests that a knowledgeable person will wait until the foolish people have stopped speaking before having their say. This demonstrates how the jackdaw was viewed as a foolish bird by some cultures.

Jackdaws are extremely common in Iveragh with plenty to be found peering down chimneys, perched upon barns and foraging in pastures around the Bolus Loop Walk, the Reenroe Cliff Walk and Reenard.

Jackdaws coming into their evening roost.