The Eurasian Jackdaw is still a sparsely breeding resident bird in Switzerland and appears on the Red List as “potentially endangered”. This cavity-nesting bird originally nested in colonies in tree hollows and on rock faces. As a synanthropic bird, it now mainly breeds in cavities in churches, castles and other older buildings. Around 60% of the Swiss Eurasian Jackdaw breeding population are building breeders. Yet many urban Eurasian Jackdaw colonies often lack good nearby foraging areas with a rich insect supply. Since 2020, the Eurasian Jackdaw has been included as a priority species in the Swiss Bird Species Promotion programme.
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
Eurasian Jackdaw
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
The Eurasian Jackdaw is very sociable: it breeds in colonies, and the pairs often remain faithful to each other for life.
©
© Michael Gerber
As a cavity-nesting bird, the Eurasian Jackdaw likes to live in old woodpecker holes or rot holes.
©
© Peter Keusch
Around 60% of the Swiss Eurasian Jackdaw population breeds in cavities on structures such as historic buildings, industrial plants and bridges.
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
©
© Marcel Burkhardt
©
© Michael Gerber
©
© Peter Keusch
Eurasian Jackdaw
The Eurasian Jackdaw is very sociable: it breeds in colonies, and the pairs often remain faithful to each other for life.
As a cavity-nesting bird, the Eurasian Jackdaw likes to live in old woodpecker holes or rot holes.
Around 60% of the Swiss Eurasian Jackdaw population breeds in cavities on structures such as historic buildings, industrial plants and bridges.
Domain
Conservation
Unit
Species Recovery
Topic
Species Recovery, Ecology
Habitat
semi-open farmland, settlements, forest, meadows and pastures
Project start
2003
Project status
ongoing
Project management
Anja Marty
Project region
Aargau, Basel Land, Bern, Fribourg, Grisons, Lucerne, St Gallen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Vaud, Valais, Zurich, Liechtenstein
Project team members
Betroffene Vogelarten
Unit
Species Recovery
Wildlife conservation coordinates the development, improvement and dissemination of measures in favour of priority bird species that cannot be helped by habitat protection alone. Together with BirdLife Switzerland and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the department also coordinates the “Species Recovery for Swiss Birds” programme.
