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The Rook is a common farmland bird, that feeds and nests in flocks. They feed on insects, especially worms. They nest in rookeries in trees. Each nest is made of sticks. Rooks may be recognised by their shaggy feathered ‘trousers’ and their bare patch at the base of the beak. Rook Jay Ireland’s CORVID-7 The Jackdaw is a small crow, recognised by its grey head and lovely green eyes. It often nests near people, sometimes in a disused chimney. Not to be confused with, Covid, a corvid is a crow - a member of the family Corviidae. Ireland has seven species of crow. Raven The Hooded Crow (or Grey Crow) is a very distinctive bird with its grey and black plumage. Hoodies are found in many habitats—farmland, mountain, coast. As with all crows, they are very intelligent birds. Chough The Magpie needs no introduction. Many people dislike them because they will kill and eat the chicks of smaller birds. However, it is worth remembering that pet cats kill more birds than magpies. The Raven is our biggest crow, being roughly as big as a buzzard. They nest on cliffs or tall exposed trees, early in the season, in February or March. Ravens will eat a variety of food, including carrion. By nesting early, they can take advantage of any dead animals that have not made it through the winter to feed their chicks. In flight, a raven can be recognised by its wedge-shaped tail. The Chough is our rarest crow, found on coastal cliffs in the west and south. It feeds in areas of short grass on the cliff tops, probing for worms with its red bill. The Jay is our most colourful crow. It is found in woodlands. In autumn, it will bury and store acorns and hazelnuts, to eat through the winter. Jays are most often seen as a pair, moving noisily through the trees with a wide variety of calls. Jackdaw Magpie Hooded Crow © Images & design by Gillian Stewart, Educaon Centre, WMNP Páirc Náisiúnta Shléibhte Chill Mhantáin Wicklow Mountains National Park
