Differences between Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw

Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw are two classes of birds that belong to the Accipitridae and Corvidae families respectively.

Bald Eagle is a type of Sea Eagle with two sub-species. It is a bird of prey with brown plumage and white tail. The bird is not actually bald, it has white colored feather on its head. It is characterized by yellow eyes, beak, and feet. The beak is hooked and is used for capturing the prey and preening. The bird has four toes and talons on each foot. One of the toes faces backwards and helps in holding the prey with extreme grip. According to scientists, the grip of a Bald Eagle is 10 times stronger than that of an average human’s hand. The bird also has exceptional hearing and vision. Bald Eagle is famous as the national bird of the USA.

Jackdaws are small, strong, intelligent, and curious birds that look like Crows. They are quick in picking up new skills. They are characterized by black beaks and black plumage that has a purplish tinge. The plumage of the male birds is likely to become grey as they age. The black legs are strong with four toes and long sharp talons. The eyes are black, while the irises are white. The birds are known for the shrill calls they make.

Where are Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw found?

Bald Eagles live around water sources surrounded by forests. They can be found near rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and coasts. They are native to North America. They exist in Mexico, the USA, Alaska, and Canada.

Jackdaws are highly adaptable birds. They can be found in forests, open fields, gardens, and cities. The birds exist in most parts of Europe besides north Africa, western Asia, and the Himalayas. Few of them were reported to have been spotted in North America in 1984. A species of Grackle is referred to as Jackdaw in the USA.

What do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat?

Bald Eagles chiefly eat fish. They also hunt snakes, turtles, small ducks, gulls, geese, lambs, foxes, dogs, rodents, rabbits, and crabs. These birds are also known to eat dead animals and abduct the prey from other animals.

Jackdaws are omnivorous. They eat insects, worms, eggs, spiders, snails, small mammals, reptiles, berries, seeds, and fruits. The birds also eat carrion and waste from bins and landfills.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw

• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Fish.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Frogs.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Lizards.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Snakes.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Turtles.
• Both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Bald-Eagle, but not by all Jackdaw.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Bald-Eagleand Jackdaw.
• Mice are eaten by both Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw.

Size of Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw?

When it comes to size, The overall size of a Bald Eagle is 2.8-3.5 feet. It has a wingspan of six to eight feet.. Jackdaws are 1.11-1.27 feet long. They have a wingspan of 2.3 feet.

Bald Eagles are enormous birds. They weigh 7-15 pounds. while Jackdaws are not heavy although they are sturdy. They weigh about 8.8 ounces.

Where do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw nest?

Bald Eagles build the largest nests among all birds in the world. Known as eyries, these nests are four to five feet wide and about two feet deep. They weight up to one ton. Some nests can be double this size. They are made by interweaving sticks and branches, while soft material like grass, feathers, and moss are used inside. Nests are generally positioned on top of large trees in the vicinity of water sources. The eggs are a pale white and shaped oval. Both partners share the task of incubating the eggs for about 35 days. The young ones fledge when they are eight to 14 weeks old.

Jackdaws are not fussy about their nests. They construct them with sticks and twigs and cover them with moss, hair, or dung. They build the nests in holes and cavities of trees, chimneys, buildings, and rooftops. They may also use nests built by other birds. The eggs are bluish green in color with brown spots. The female incubates them for about 18 days. After hatching, the chicks are dependent on the parents for food. The male and female share the responsibility of feeding them. The chicks fledge when they are 28-35 days old but continue to be reliant on the parents for food for another four weeks. The eggs in the brood hatch asynchronously. When the last egg hatches, the earlier hatched chicks are probably old enough to fledge. Therefore, the parents may abandon the new-borns speculating that they may not survive.

How long do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw live?

The average lifespan of Bald Eagles is 20-30 years in the wild. Their life is threatened by illegal hunting, lead poisoning, electrocution, and loss of habitat. The oldest lived Bald Eagle was 38 years old. It died in 2015 due to collision with a car.

The average lifespan of Jackdaws is five years. The Western Jackdaw or Eurasian Jackdaw found in Europe, parts of Africa, central Asia, and Himalayas is known to live up to 20 years.

Are Bald-Eagle or Jackdaw migratory birds?

Bald Eagles usually reside in their territories throughout the year. The ones living in Canada and Alaska travel south to spend the winters in central and southern parts of USA.

Not all Jackdaws are migratory. The ones in the UK are mostly residents or may travel a few miles during winter. Western Jackdaws from northern Europe may move south. The Jackdaws living in northern Africa are also mostly residents. The ones from Russia may travel to north-west Europe.

Do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw fly in flocks?

A flock of Bald Eagles is called a congregation or convocation. The birds are solitary. In winters, they may roost in groups to keep themselves warm. They fly alone even during migration.

Clattering or train refers to a group of Jackdaws. They are extremely gregarious and follow a hierarchy in their colonies. Jackdaws spend most of their time with their community. They forage, roost, and move around in groups. Research shows that the birds communicate efficiently through their eyes and also engage in sophisticated communication. They are capable of warning each other about predators or human attacks. They can remember human faces, perform tricks, and steal things. The birds also share their food and objects, a trait that is unusual in birds.

Are Bald-Eagle or Jackdaw protected?

Bald Eagles are protected in the USA under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The laws prohibit harming and killing the birds or owning their body parts. The birds are also protected in Canada.

Jackdaws are protected under the law in countries like the UK, France, Italy, Austria, and USA. However, they can be killed with a licence. Jackdaws are considered as pests as they cause harm to livestock and crops.

Are Bald-Eagle or Jackdaw endangered?

The population of Bald Eagles had declining to about 450 nesting pairs in 1960s in the USA. The bird was listed as endangered in 1978. However, the banning of DDT and other conservation efforts have yielded good results. With an increase in the numbers of Bald Eagles to about 4,500 nesting pairs in 1995, the species was re-classified as threatened. With further increase in their population to over 6,300 nesting pairs in 2000, the species has been removed from the endangered and threatened species list.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed Jackdaws as species of least concern. There was a reduction in their population in the UK during 1970s, but the numbers have recovered in the 21st century. Jackdaws presently flourish in all habitats they live in.

Can Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw fly?

Bald Eagles fly by soaring high with the use of thermals and wind currents. They manage their speed by altering the position of their wings. During long migration, the birds rarely flap their wings in order to conserve energy. The average flying speed of Bald Eagles is 75-100 miles an hour.

Jackdaws fly with their wings spread out and legs folded. They have multiple vortices on their wings, so they flap their wings while take off and drift thereafter. The birds are capable of flying at a speed of 20-25 miles per hour.

Can Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw swim?

Bald Eagles can swim but seldom do. They are mostly airborne birds. They also dive into water to catch their prey.

The body of Jackdaws is not suited for swimming. They have clawed feet with toes. Therefore, Jackdaws cannot swim. They enter waterbodies to drink water and to bathe.

Mating patterns among Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw

Bald Eagles reach sexual maturity when they are four or five years old. During the breeding season, the birds become aggressive to defend their territory. Of their mating rituals, the prominent is the cartwheel courtship flight where the male and female soar high, lock their talons, and fall to the ground in a cartwheel spin. They also chase each other and perform aerial dances. The partners may copulate more than once a day. When the eggs are laid, both male and female take turns to incubate them for 34-36 days. The partners also share the responsibility of feeding and protecting the young ones. The eaglets are ready to fledge when they are about 12 weeks old.

Young Jackdaws may select their pairs in the autumn of their first year. However, they breed only when they are close to two years. The birds follow social hierarchy while choosing their pairs. The female may choose a partner of higher ranking to upgrade her rank. During courtship, the female may beseech the male to get her food. The partners engage in preening the feathers on each other’s neck and head. The partners also perform aerial dances. They mostly live in pairs at their nesting sites during the breeding season. The female lays about six eggs in a season. She takes the duties of incubating them, while her male partner helps her in feeding and defending the young ones.

When is the mating season for Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw ?

Bald Eagles in the south-eastern regions of USA start mating in October and pursue till February-March. For the birds in western states, mating season commences in January.

The mating season for Jackdaws occurs during April-June. They raise a single brood every season.

Do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw mate for life?

Bald Eagles are monogamous. Not only do they mate for life, they also make caring partners and parents.

Jackdaws are usually monogamous. The bonding between partners is for life. However, in some cases partners do not exclusively mate with each other. They may engage with other birds and have offspring from them.

How do Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw sleep?

Bald Eagles roost communally during winters. They sleep on large trees to stay sheltered from severe wind and cold. During the breeding season, they sleep closer to the nests. The birds have a locking mechanism in their legs that allows them to maintain their standing posture while asleep.

Jackdaws roost in flocks. The birds are tightly packed on trees during the night. They are known to do some jabbering before calming down for rest. Further, they give out alarm calls when there is any danger during the night.

Can Bald-Eagle and Jackdaw be eaten?

Bald Eagles were eaten in ancient times by Hare, Tlingit, and few other communities. However, modern laws do not permit killing and consumption of the birds.

People may have eaten Jackdaws out of desperation in the past. They are not commonly eaten as a delicacy now. It is not advisable to eat them as they are scavenging birds whose meat could be infected.

Can you hunt Bald-Eagle or Jackdaw?

Archaic cultures hunted Bald Eagles for food by using bows and arrows, hooks, and traps. Subsequently, they were hunted for sport and their feathers. Owing to a reduction in their population, laws have been passed prohibiting any form of killing and hunting of the birds.

Jackdaws are largely hunted by farmers for destroying their crops and livestock. Even in countries where they are protected, licence is given to kill Jackdaws that are destructive.

Can you feed Bald-Eagle or Jackdaw?

Feeding Bald Eagles in public is forbidden in the USA and Canada. In captivity, the birds are given whole fish, rats, guinea pigs, and chicken.

Feeding birds in public is not allowed in countries like the USA. In captivity, Jackdaws are given seeds, berries, eggs, and mice.