Jackdaw Coloeus monedula
Western European form 'spermologus' very common resident, also passage migrant and winter visitor. Nordic Jackdaw, C.m. monedula, rare or overlooked winter visitor.
This hole-nesting crow is a versatile breeder nesting in trees as well as in buildings, especially chimney pots. The Atlas estimated a population in the range of 7,500-11,900 pairs in the late 1980s and since then the Lincs BBS chart shows a 102% increase over the period 1994-2019 in line with the trend across England. The APEP4 adjusted 2016 Lincolnshire population is 28,000 pairs which seems high but could be correct. Post-breeding birds flock up and the largest single flock reported in LBR in the 5 years to 2018 was c2,500 recorded in a regular roost in Belton Park in December 2016, and 1,800 at Gibraltar Point in October 2017. Flocks of more than 1,000 are exceptional.
Birds showing characters of the Nordic race C.m.monedula have been rarely recorded in the county but are probably annual. The first records of this race relate to single birds shot by Caton Haigh at Fenby Wood, near Grainsby on January 20th 1919, March 4th 1920 and February 14th 1926. Other more recent records have come from Donna Nook on April 1st 1979 and Barton-on-Humber on November 6th 1983. Several birds at Whisby NP, and at Kirkby on Bain in January 2016 also showed characteristics of this race. Later in that year, one was at Marston STW on April 17th and then four were at Whisby NR on November 5th and two were there on December 23rd. In summary, in the 10 years to 2018 total records were four (2009), one (2010), one (2011/2012), and nine (2016).
(Account prepared March 2019, updated with reference to new Birds of Lincolnshire (2021), included October 2022)