The Daurian Jackdaw (Corvus dauuricus) is a member of the Corvidae or crow family of birds. It is closely related to the Eurasian Jackdaw. The name derives from the Dauria region of eastern Russia.

It is the same size or perhaps slightly smaller (32 cm in length) than the latter species, with the same proportions and identical habits. The principal difference is its plumage; many but not all adults of this species have large areas of creamy white on the lower parts extending up around the neck as a thick collar. The head, throat, wings and tail are glossy black and the ear coverts are grizzled grey. Darker adults and young birds resemble Eurasian Jackdaws, though Daurian Jackdaws have a black iris, unlike the distinctive grey-white iris of the Eurasian Jackdaw.

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs from the more southerly part of eastern Siberia, south to Mongolia and down into all of China. In the north of its range it migrates further south during the winter. It is a scarce winter visitor to Korea, a rare but yearly winter visitor to Japan, and vagrant to Taiwan. There are a mere handful of records from Western Europe

It inhabits open woodland, river valley and open hills and mountains. Very sociable and often found in association with rooks. The only other pied corvid species inhabiting the same region is the Chinese Collared Crow (C. torquatus) but as this is a much larger bird (about the same size or slightly larger than the Carrion Crow (C. corone)) confusion is unlikely to occur.

Behaviour

Diet

The food is identical to that of the Eurasian Jackdaw and includes cultivated grains, insects and berries, and feeding on insects from animal dung.

Nesting

This species will nest in trees where suitable holes cannot be found though tree cavities or rock openings and ruined buildings are still favoured. The eggs are the same as for the Eurasian Jackdaw.

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• Daurian Jackdaws
• Group of birds