Differences between Condor and Jackdaw

Condor and Jackdaw are two classes of birds that belong to the Cathartidae and Corvidae families respectively.

Condor includes two species of New World Vultures, namely, the Andean Condor and the California Condor. They are one of the largest flying birds in the world. The Andean Condor is characterized by black feathers with white patches at the tip of wings. Its neck is covered with white fur, while the head is red and bald. The bird’s talons are straight and blunt and its beak is curved. The California Condor is generally black with white patches below the wings. The neck and head are yellowish orange without any feathers. These birds do not have talons and the backward toe for grasping. The beak is hooked and has an egg tooth.

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 Condor and Jackdaw found?

Andean Condors are found in mountains, deserts, and coasts. They exist in Andes mountains and parts of western South America. On the other hand, California Condors live in rocky shrubs and coniferous forests. They can be found in southern parts of Californian deserts besides Mexico, Utah, and Arizona.

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 Condor and Jackdaw eat?

Andean Condors and California Condors are both carnivores and scavengers. They eat dead deer, sheep, pigs, cows, and other large mammals. On rare occasions they hunt small creatures like rodents, rabbits, and small reptiles.

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 Condor and Jackdaw

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

Size of Condor and Jackdaw?

When it comes to size, Andean Condors are one of the largest flying birds in the world with a height of nearly four feet and a wingspan of 10 feet. California Condors are nearly as large with a height of 3.5-4.5 feet and a wingspan of about 9.8 feet. They are the largest flying birds in North America.. Jackdaws are 1.11-1.27 feet long. They have a wingspan of 2.3 feet.

Condors are also huge in terms of weight. Andean Condors weigh 16.9-33 pounds. Meanwhile, the average weight of California Condors is 18-20 pounds. while Jackdaws are not heavy although they are sturdy. They weigh about 8.8 ounces.

Where do Condor and Jackdaw nest?

Andean Condors make their nests with sticks on safe rims of rocks or ledges of cliffs in higher elevation. Their eggs are bluish white with a weight of 9.9 ounces. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs for 58-60 days. The chicks fledge at around six months but continue to be under the care of their parents for 10 months to two years. California Condors use mountain caves or tree cavities to lay eggs. They surround the eggs with gravel, sticks, or bones. The eggs are bluish green in color and weigh 10 ounces. Both male and female share duties of incubating and nesting the young ones. The eggs hatch after 53-60 days. The young ones fledge in about four months but remain with the parents for a year.

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 Condor and Jackdaw live?

Both species of Condors have a long lifespan. Andean Condors live up to 50 years in the wild. The oldest lived bird died at 80 years in January 2010 at the Beardsley Zoo in USA. California Condors have an average lifespan of 60 years. Of the living California Condors, the oldest is a male that hatched in April 1966.

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 Condor or Jackdaw migratory birds?

Andean Condors and California Condors are not typical migratory birds although they fly long distances. They do not travel in search of new habitats, instead travel nearly 125 miles a day looking for food.

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 Condor and Jackdaw fly in flocks?

A group of Condors is called a Condo. Andean Condors are mostly solitary. They live in small groups of three or four having both male and female birds. They may roost in colonies. Contrastingly, California Condors are more social. They spend time with their groups and also follow a social hierarchy. They eat together but following a pecking order.

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 Condor or Jackdaw protected?

Both Condor species are protected by law in the USA. They are categorized under the Endangered Species Act, under which harming or killing them is punishable.

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 Condor or Jackdaw endangered?

Andean Condors are listed as threatened. They are extinct in Venezuela. Their population is under threat because of hunting by farmers to save their livestock and poisoning from pesticides. They also face danger from electrocution, eating trash, and exposure to pesticides. California Condors are listed as critically endangered. Only a few hundreds of them are remaining but their numbers are increasing due to captive breeding. These birds are being reinstated into the wild.

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 Condor and Jackdaw fly?

The Condor species fly by using thermals and flap their wings as infrequently as once an hour. Owing to their large size, they prefer to fly in windy regions. They can reach flying speeds of 55 miles an hour and soar at altitudes of 15,000 feet.

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 Condor and Jackdaw swim?

Condors are not built to swim. They are not water birds. They are huge and fly in search of food.

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 Condor and Jackdaw

Andean Condors reach sexual maturity when they turn five or six years. They have the longest breeding cycle among all birds in the world. They reproduce during alternate years. During courtship, the male’s neck changes color to bright yellow. He hisses and coos while dancing and hopping around the female with his wings partly spread out. The partners share a close bonding and raise the young ones jointly for a year. California Condors start mating when they are six to eight years old. They lay one egg every two years. Courtship will include the male performing displays, extending his wings, and dancing by moving his legs. The female also performs displays with her wings. The partners share the responsibility of incubating and tending to the young ones. The female California Condors are known to be able to reproduce asexually without mating.

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 Condor and Jackdaw ?

Andean Condors mate during February-June. In the case of California Condors, the mating season is from December to April.

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

Do Condor and Jackdaw mate for life?

Both Condor species are monogamous and mate for life. They also live with their offspring for longer than most other birds.

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 Condor and Jackdaw sleep?

Andean Condors and California Condors roost in groups on elevated cliffs or tall trees to keep themselves safe from predators on the ground. They however sleep near their nests during the breeding season.

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 Condor and Jackdaw be eaten?

Humans are not known to consume Condor meat. As these birds are scavengers, it is not healthy to eat them. Further, modern laws do not permit killing of Condors.

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 Condor or Jackdaw?

Reduction in the population of California Condors has chiefly been attributed to hunting by farmers who killed the birds to save their livestock. Farmers have also killed Andean Condors. Therefore, to save these species that are endangered, laws have been introduced prohibiting any kind of harming or killing.

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 Condor or Jackdaw?

Condors are protected in captivity and at breeding centers to save them from extinction. Here, the birds are fed meat, rodents, chicken, and fish.

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