Differences between Falcon and Jackdaw

Falcon and Jackdaw are two classes of birds that belong to the Falconidae and Corvidae families respectively.

Falcons are birds of prey. They are known for their agility and sharp vision. They have superior hunting skills, characterized by quick identification, chase, and capture. Their back, head, and wings are bluish grey, while their neck and belly are white with greyish black markings. The skin around the beak, the legs, and feet are yellow. The beak of Falcons is sharply bent at the tip, where they also have a sharp tooth that helps in killing the prey. The talons on the feet are long, sharp, and curved. The Falcon family includes about 40 species.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw found?

Falcons live everywhere where they can find food. They flourish near coastlines, but can be found in river valleys, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests too. They exist in all parts of the world, except Antarctica.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw eat?

Falcons are carnivores and chiefly eat other birds, pigeons being their favorite. They prey on birds like doves, gulls, ducks, bats, and waterfowl. Falcons are capable of seizing birds in mid-air. They sometimes also eat fish, frogs, squirrels, mice, and insects.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw

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

Size of Falcon and Jackdaw?

When it comes to size, Falcons are usually 15-60 centimeters long. Their wingspan could be 74-120 centimeters.. Jackdaws are 1.11-1.27 feet long. They have a wingspan of 2.3 feet.

The average weight of Falcons is 1.5-3.3 pounds. The male birds weigh 0.73-2.20 pounds, while the females weigh 1.5-3.3 pounds. The Gyrfalcon is the heaviest of all species. It weighs 3.3 pounds. while Jackdaws are not heavy although they are sturdy. They weigh about 8.8 ounces.

Where do Falcon and Jackdaw nest?

Falcons do not build their nests. They use tree holes, ledges in cliffs, or discarded nests of other birds to lay their eggs. Both partners engage in incubating the eggs, which hatch in 29-32 days. The young birds will be able to fly when they are about six weeks old. Nevertheless, they stay under their parents’ care till they are about 10 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 Falcon and Jackdaw live?

The average lifespan of Falcons is 13 years, although they may live up to 16-20 years in the wild. Many birds die young due to malnutrition. Several adults are also recorded to be dying early because of habitat loss, DDT poisoning, airplane accidents, and environmental issues.

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 Falcon or Jackdaw migratory birds?

Not all Falcons migrate. Peregrines from Alaska and Greenland migrate to USA and South America during winters. The Amur Falcon migrates in winter from Russia and China to India and South Africa. Most other species remain in their habitats throughout the year if the climate is favorable.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw fly in flocks?

A group of Falcons is called a cast or cauldron. Falcons are solitary birds. They live, hunt, and migrate alone. They socialize only in the breeding season.

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 Falcon or Jackdaw protected?

Falcons are protected across the world under various laws like Migratory Bird Act, Wildlife Conservation Act, and the International CITES treaty. The vulnerable species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

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 Falcon or Jackdaw endangered?

Falcons are not endangered. The American Peregrine was classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970. However, it was removed from the list in 1999. The existence of the bird was threatened owing to DDT poisoning. However, the banning of DDT together with other recovery projects have saved the species from becoming extinct.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw fly?

Falcons are splendid flyers. They have thin, tapered wings that help them to cut down drag and fly in high speeds. With sharp eyesight, the birds can dive at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour to capture their prey. The average flying speed of Peregrine Falcons, the fastest animal in the world, is 242 miles an hour. Falcons are solitary travelers that fly about 15,500 miles each year. Amur falcons are the longest migratory birds in the world. They fly over 13,600 miles at a stretch.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw swim?

Falcons do not swim. The structure of their body and feet are not ideal for swimming. However, some Falcon species dive into water to catch the 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 Falcon and Jackdaw

Falcons start mating when they are about two years old. The male performs courtship displays in the air to attract the female. He also fetches preys for the female, who in turn shows her acceptance by perching in a suitable spot. The female typically lays three to four eggs, which are around two inches long and pink or brownish in color. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the female usually sits on the young ones to keep them warm while the male gets food for her. The partners protect the young ones by attacking anything that intimidates them.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw ?

Falcons are lonely birds that come together only during mating. The mating season depends on the location. It is generally March-July.

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

Do Falcon and Jackdaw mate for life?

Falcons are monogamous and mate for life. They also tend to use the same nest every breeding season.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw sleep?

Falcons are active during the day, although they may take occasional naps. They sleep during the night while standing on one leg and resting their head on their back.

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 Falcon and Jackdaw be eaten?

Falcons were eaten in the past in some cultures like Hare and Strait. They ate the bird meat by boiling, frying, or roasting. However, consumption of Falcons is no longer permitted by stringent conservation laws.

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 Falcon or Jackdaw?

Hunting of Falcons was widespread for sport, falconry, feathers, skin, and meat. Although hunting has reduced due to strict laws, falconry is still practiced in countries like United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.

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 Falcon or Jackdaw?

It is illegal to feed wild birds in many countries. However, in countries like the USA, one can own and feed Falcons. The birds are carnivores and should be fed insects, rodents, and ground meat.

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