Jackdaw or Magpie?
These two get mixed up constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from each bird's own page.
Jackdaw
Coloeus monedula
A magpie is black and white with a long graduated tail half its total length. A jackdaw is short-tailed and black and grey, with no white on it at all.
Magpie
Pica pica
Side by side
| Jackdaw | Magpie | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | About 34cm — clearly smaller than a carrion crow or rook, roughly woodpigeon-sized but slimmer. | Bigger than a pigeon in total length, though much of that is tail — roughly 45cm nose to tail. |
| Where you'll see it | On chimneys, roof ridges and lawns, and dropping in on feeders and scraps. | Lawns, rooftops, tall trees and roadsides; raids feeders and fat blocks. |
| What it eats | Omnivorous — insects, worms, seeds, grain, fruit, eggs, scraps and whatever a lawn or bin yields. | Beetles, leatherjackets and worms, carrion, scraps, fruit and grain — plus eggs and chicks in spring. |
| When | Resident all year, most conspicuous in late winter when pairs start prospecting chimneys. | Resident all year; most conspicuous in late winter when groups display. |
| Status | Green listed | Green listed |
Still not sure? Describe what you saw and we will rank every garden bird against it — including these two.
Both descriptions are taken from the species pages, which cite the BTO and RSPB. Reviewed 2026-09-20.