Join Nigel Palmer on this week's Wildlife Matters podcast as he explores the captivating world of British corvids, a family of birds renowned for their intelligence and adaptability.

The episode delves into recent wildlife news, including the unauthorised release of lynx in Scotland and the public outcry that followed, highlighting the complexities of wildlife reintroduction efforts. Listeners will also learn about the remarkable sightings of humpback whales off the Sussex coast, showcasing the excitement these majestic creatures bring to marine enthusiasts.

The podcast further emphasises the ecological importance of corvids, featuring an introduction to several native species, including ravens, rooks, and jackdaws.

Through engaging storytelling and expert insights, Nigel invites listeners to appreciate the beauty and significance of these remarkable birds as well as the pressing challenges they face in today's world.

Hello, and a big warm winter welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast. I am your host - Nigel Palmer.

And on this week’s action-packed Wildlife Matters podcast, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of the unique corvids that grace the UK with their presence. 

If you have ever marvelled at the beauty of crows, this is your chance to be captivated by these intelligent, stunning, iridescent birds. 

Join us to spend some mindful moments in nature as we explore a very special and globally rare habitat, a treasure primarily found in the UK, and that faces a massive challenge in future

But before that, 2025 has been busy here at Wildlife Matters with lots of Nature news stories for you, including the return or not of a native species - the first-ever live stream from a hunt meeting and giant cetaceans in the English Channel. 

So, let’s go to the News desk for this week’s Wildlife matters. Nature News

The Wildlife Matters podcast delves into the intriguing world of corvids, a family of birds renowned for their intelligence and adaptability.

Hosted by Nigel Palmer, the episode begins with a warm welcome and an overview of the unique corvid species found in the UK, such as crows, ravens, and jackdaws.

Listeners are invited to appreciate the beauty and complexity of these birds, emphasising their roles as scavengers and seed dispersers within ecosystems.

The podcast also tackles pressing conservation issues, such as the illegal release of lynx in Scotland, highlighting community reactions and the implications for wildlife management.

With a blend of nature news and thoughtful reflections, Palmer encourages listeners to consider their responsibility towards coexisting with wildlife, promoting a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between human activities and the natural world.

Takeaways:

• The return of lynx to the Scottish Highlands has sparked both excitement and controversy, highlighting the complexities of wildlife reintroduction.
• Ravens, rooks, and jackdaws are among the fascinating corvid species that are native to the UK, each with unique characteristics and behaviors.
• Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin's recent live stream from a hunt meeting brought significant attention to illegal hunting practices in the UK.
• Humpback whale sightings off the Sussex coast are rare and have recently captivated local communities and marine enthusiasts alike.
• Chalk rivers, which are primarily found in the UK, support a delicate ecosystem that is vital for numerous aquatic species.
• The podcast emphasises the importance of understanding and appreciating corvids as intelligent and ecologically significant birds rather than viewing them solely as pests.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
• Born Free Foundation
• Wildlands
• Wildlife Matters

Hello and a big warm welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters podcast.

I'm your host, Nigel Palmer, and on this week's action packed Wildlife Matters podcast, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of the unique corvids that grace the UK with their presence.

If you have ever marveled at the beauty of crows, this is your chance to be captivated by these intelligent, stunning, iridescent birds.

Then join us to spend some mindful moments in nature as we explore explore a very special and globally rare habitat, a treasure primarily found in the UK and that faces a massive challenge in the future.

Here at Wildlife Matters with a lot.

Of nature news stories for you, including the return or not of a native species, first ever live stream from a hunt meeting and giant citations in the English Channel.

So let's get over to the news desk for this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Hello and welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Well, when we first heard the reports that lynx had been seen in the Cairngorms area of Scotland, my heart skipped a beat with excitement.

These native cats had at last returned to their natural habitat.

But sadly, as the story continued to develop, it became clear police Scotland was searching for two links.

That episode ended quickly, as both animals were captured by experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and were taken to quarantine facilities at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Yet the delight of a successful operation remained short lived.

Early on Friday morning, the RZSS's network of wildlife cameras caught two moorings in the same stretch of forest near Kingussie.

The baited traps were deployed again and the specialists began to search before the additional links were safely captured.

At around 6:30pm speculation has erupted over who was responsible for the illegal release, and police said inquiries were continuing to establish the full circumstances.

According to a witness, the lynx shy solitary animals in the wild and not.

Dangerous to humans, were found near straw.

Bedding a lay by with dead chicks and porcupine quills.

On social media, some blamed rogue rewilders.

For taking the law into their own.

Hands by making the return of lynx a fact on the ground similar to how beavers returned to the UK through unauthorized beaver bombing.

Studies indicate that the Highlands could support.

As many as 400 lynx in the.

World, and there is strong support for their return among environmental groups.

But leading voices in the rewilding sector quickly condemned this week's unauthorized release as reckless and highly irresponsible.

The potential impact of lynx on the.

Local ecosystem, including their role in controlling.

Deer population should be carefully considered in future reintroduction plans.

Dave Barkley, an expert leading the search for the lynx, said that these semi tame animals were highly habituated to people, yet had been released in the depths of winter.

With temperatures locally plunging below minus 5 or 23 degrees Fahrenheit, creating deep snow cover, the lynx were released at the mouth of a forest track heavily used by logging machinery.

All of that compromises the welfare of these animals, he said.

It's abhorrent what has happened here and against all international good practice.

Investigators now suspect the lynx could have been from a family group.

The two captured on Thursday are believed to both be juvenile cubs of around one to two years old.

Ben Goldsmith, an environmentalist, said, like many others, I have been momentarily thrilled by the notion of lynx once again stalking the cairngorms.

Lynx are iconic native species missing from Britain and they should be back here.

The habitat is perfect.

These are secretive animals and there are.

No good reasons not to reintroduce them.

We don't know the story behind these missing links.

Perhaps they are abandoned pets that have become unmanageable.

Whatever has happened, it seems to have been poorly thought through.

The lynx were bound on the Kill Hunt, the estate owned by Danish billionaire Anders Poulsen.

A spokesman for Wildlands, the company that runs Poulsen's Scottish estate, said that they believe the native predators should be introduced lawfully and in close collaboration with local people.

In the uk, Citizens must apply to their local council to keep wild animals.

All were housed in England.

Experts said that the more links were likely to be held in unauthorized private collections that were difficult to monitor.

There could be far more links in private hands than are recorded, said Dr.

Paul O'Donoghue, director of the Lynx UK Trust.

If they have cubs, they may not register them.

People would be gobsmacked by what people have in their back gardens.

Lynx are now a protected species in Europe.

The Eurasian lynx has recovered from a.

Many as ten thousand.

This recovery is a testament to to successful conservation efforts, but the recent events in Scotland highlight the ongoing challenges in managing and protecting these species.

Research suggests a mixed support for their return to the UK with strong opposition from farmers, particularly the Scottish nfu, who fear that the lynx will attack livestock such as sheep.

Our second story this week is about Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, who joined SABS at a New Year Hunt meeting.

As the Cottagemoor Hunt gathered in Wymondham Village at the home of their former master huntsman and the current British Hound Sports Association Vice chairman, Andrew Osborne, the Northamps hunt saboteurs arrived with some special guests of their own.

Chris Packham CBE, broadcaster and natural history expert and zoologist Megan McCubbin.

Accompanying Chris and Megan was Fabian, who used a live broadcast camera to capture all the events as they unfolded and shared them via a live social media stream.

The only veil of secrecy the Cottagemoor could muster was the thick mist that shrouded their killing fields as the hunt left the meet.

Passing Chris and Megan on the road.

They suddenly found themselves in uncharted territory.

Clearly unnerved by the spotlight now shining on them, Chris Packham asked lots of questions about the illegal activities and related violent disorder associated with the Cottagemoor and other hunts.

Meanwhile, Megan chatted with members of the Northampton SAD group, gaining insights and information throughout the broadcast, which actually lasted over three hours.

This kept the social media world buzzing with discussions about fox hunting.

Chris and Megan paid particular attention to.

The first draw, where hounds were cast.

Into a small copse of thick brambles.

It was evident to anyone watching that no trail layer could have been through, dispelling any attempts to maintain the smokescreen of trail hunting.

Chris and Megan explained to the tens of thousands watching the livestream about the lies the trail hunters spin to support their cruel and barbaric pastime of trail hunting.

Anyone suggesting that having two professional broadcasters and a natural history expert present at a hump meeting was a stunt should consider the risks they both took by being there.

Chris Packham has received credible and severe threats to his own safety, including arson attacks on his home from hunt supporters.

Chris and Meghan showed incredible courage and commitment to expose the illegal hunts at.

A live meet and to go live.

On social media media later in the day, Chris and Megan witnessed hounds going in to cry across a main road.

When they asked the whipper in what.

Was happening, his reply, broadcast live on social media, was that a trail had been laid across the road.

A transparently clear lie.

What a shambles that cruel Cottesmore Hunt are.

This was a unique day for the.

North Hants Hunt saboteurs and their ongoing campaign against the criminal activities of the Cottagemoor Hunt.

It's a day that they won't forget.

Soon.

We should all extend an enormous thank you to Megan and Chris and their team and of course, the saboteurs.

Everyone gelled exceptionally well and through good teamwork, we could appeal directly to thousands of people by live streaming a notorious fox hump.

The broadcast also highlighted the urgent need for everyone to advocate for a ban on trail hunting to become a legal reality soon.

And our final story on this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News is the remarkable one of a humpback whale sighting made off the picturesque Sussex coast, capturing the attention of both locals and marine enthusiasts.

Kitty Dale filmed this extraordinary event from.

Hastings seafront on 3 January.

The interest in the sighting has been.

Overwhelming, with the Sussex Dolphin Project receiving a multitude of reports from various locations, including at Rye, Pet Level, Fairlight, St Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey, Eastbourne, Dungeness and the iconic Beachy Head.

This collective effort has made the sightings even more significant, fostering a sense of community engagement and shared excitement.

Humpback whale sightings in the eastern English Channel are notably rare, making this recent sighting a significant event.

Yet marine experts explain that these magnificent.

Creatures can appear during the winter months as they migrate southwards.

This migration often leads them to pass.

Along the UK coastline.

The Sussex Dolphin Project told Wildlife Matters its excitement about the recent flurry of sightings, saying, wow, what an exciting few days of sightings.

Thank you to everyone who shared their experience of spotting a humpback whale over the last few days, which peaked with some impressive public breaching displays yesterday.

They went on to provide a further insight into the movement patterns of Humphreck, Wales by saying, although these sightings are uncommon in the eastern English Channel, we typically receive several reports during a winter.

Season when these whales are migrating south.

While most humpbacks take the westerly route navigating past Ireland, a number of them do opt for the easterly passage which brings them through the UK and into the Channel as they continue the their journey.

As we move forward, we encourage everyone to keep their eyes peeled on the water and to report any sightings they have to the Sussex Dolphin Project.

You can do this via their website and all data will help the science and to help the whales in the future.

And that has been this week's Wildlife Matters Nature.

In.

Calm, crystal waters meander over the.

Gravel beds, flowing through landscapes adorned with white flowered water.

Crowfoot and watercress chalk rivers are enchanting.

Aloland rivers, known for their clear water and diversity of plant life.

Although they have all been altered to some degree, be that for milling, fishing.

Irrigation or watercress cultivation, they continue to.

Support a delicate aquatic ecosystem despite weirs, impoundment and water abstraction.

England's chalk Rivers and streams are renowned worldwide for trout and salmon.

The river corridors often feature lush vegetation.

These rivers originate from a chalk aquifer, resulting in the purest water that is.

Rich in minerals and maintaining a relatively.

Constant temperature throughout the year.

The stable environment allows various aquatic plants to thrive.

A combination of plant diversity and high.

Water quality supports numerous species of invertebrates and fish.

Some headwaters consist of winterborne streams which naturally run dry by late summer if low rainfall does not recharge the aquifers.

And on today's Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments Sit with me and be still and.

Silent and listen to the crystal clear.

Waters as they flow by us.

It.

Well, I hope you enjoyed spending time just sitting by the beautiful crystal clear waters of a chalk stream.

There are only around 200 chalk rivers worldwide, with 85% of those located in.

The UK, primarily in southern and eastern England.

Notable examples include Hampshire's River Test, the River Vere in Hertfordshire, and the River Chess, which flows from Buckinghamshire through to Rickmansworth in the west of London.

In early summer you may see clouds of mayflies emerging from the crystal clear.

Water to lay their eggs after spending.

Most of their lives as nymphs under the waters.

You may also spot a stunning variety of dragonflies, trout and salmon, crayfish and.

Ballheads, among many other species.

Chalk streams are incredible and vital habitat.

That need our help and protection, and.

Wildlife Matters will soon share updates from our Chalk Stream projects that will be beginning soon.

That has been this week's Wildlife Matters.

Mindful Moments.

And now it's time for part one of our fascinating new series as Wildlife Matters shares an introduction to British Corvids.

Corvids are a fascinating family of birds known for their intelligence, adaptability and social complexity.

Famed for their intelligence, they exhibit problem.

Solving skills, use tools and in some.

Cases are self aware.

Many corvids live in complex social groups with intricate hierarchies and communication systems.

Their social interactions and behaviors are fascinating to observe.

Corvids, with their diverse roles as seed dispersers, scavengers and predators, are key players in maintaining a healthy environmental system.

With their striking plumage, acrobatic flight and unique vocalizations, corvids are a source of of awe, inspiring beauty and wonder in the natural world.

Observing their behavior can be an enriching experience.

Corvids have been featured in folklore, mythology.

And literature across many cultures, often symbolizing.

Intelligence, cunning or even trickery.

This rich cultural significance adds an intriguing layer to our understanding understanding of these wonderful birds.

While some may view corvids as pests with understanding and appreciating their intelligence, their social complexity and ecological importance.

It's crucial and it can help us to take responsibility and coexist harmoniously with these remarkable birds.

So let's get started with Wildlife Matters Introduction to British Corvids Part 1.

The Corvid family of birds can divide opinions, with some loving the almost subversive side of corvids that feature strongly in myth and legend, whilst others dislike the shrill calls and the perceived cruelty of corvids when feeding.

Many misunderstand these intelligent and super adaptive birds, whilst others, like Wildlife Matters, find them one of the most fascinating and beautiful wild species in the uk.

Eight corvid species are native here in Britain.

The five are from the Corvis genus and are corvids we look at today.

The other three corvid species will be featured in part two on the next Wildlife Matters podcast.

Corvids are a group of birds belonging to the Corvidiae family, also known as the crow family.

The family includes crows, jackdaws, rooks, ravens, jays, magpies and chuffs.

There are over 120 species of corvids worldwide.

In this article we'll examine British corvids in size order from the largest to the smallest.

We begin with one of my favorite birds, the magnificent, intelligent and beautiful raven.

The raven, known as the northern or common raven, is the most widespread crow species worldwide.

It can be found in various climates, not just the classic colder climates of the north.

In fact, ravens can be found in the Arctic, the temperate habitats of North.

America and Europe, and the deserts of Africa.

They can even be found in urban areas such as London and the mountains and uplands of England, Scotland and Wales.

Corvids are known for their intelligence, with various species being able to recognize themselves in mirrors, being aware of being watched and remembering human faces.

They feature strongly in our culture and.

Folklore, some of which are rather macabre, such as the belief that crows will peck out the eyes of their victims.

To attain the excellent vision.

It's a small step to see how a group of crows attracted to a corpse not as scavengers but as agents of death with murderous intentions.

Ravens are the British Isles largest corvids with 125 to 135 centimeter wingspans.

And like the carrion crow, they are.

All black but have a thicker neck.

Bill and a diamond shaped tail.

They are usually found alone or in pairs and are rare in urban areas, except of course in the Tower of London.

They have A very distinctive cronking call.

Male and female common ravens look almost.

Identical except that the female is slightly smaller.

They have glossy black plumage with a purplish green or blue hue to it.

Males often raise their long loose erectile throat feathers during displays of dominance.

The head is large and the bill.

Is powerful, medium length, chunky and black.

The nose may have nasal bristles which.

Can cover up to half of the upper edge of the bill.

The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are black with gray soles.

Common ravens have a wide range of calls and can successfully mimic sounds.

This makes it hard to interpret their call types.

They often make a loud low to medium pitched bark like bark bark which is repeated frequently.

Common ravens are known for scavenging the.

Flesh of carcasses, but they are also.

Skilled hunters that will eat almost anything.

They primarily feed on small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, snails, worms, berries, fruits and seeds.

They are also known to scavenge on rubbish tips and along shorelines.

Ravens have been at the Tower of.

King Charles ordered the ravens at the Tower be protected.

There are always at least six resident ravens cared for by one of the yeoman warders known as the Raven Master.

Legend has it that should the six ravens all leave the Tower, the Kingdom of Britain and the Tower will fall.

Common ravens can be found in various.

Habitats including wild open and barren upland.

Moors, urban and suburban areas, woods, farmland and in the Lake District.

They tend to avoid the east coast of the UK but can be found throughout Northern Ireland, most of Scotland and Wales and across the Pennines close up.

Common ravens are easily identifiable by their large glossy black body and thick chunky arched shaped bill.

In flight they display characteristics typical of.

The species with long waves edged tails that appear diamond shaped and long black pointed wings similar to those of the common birds of prey which show prominent wing fingers.

Ravens construct large nests of sticks, heather and grasses high in the treetops.

The nests are commonly reused yearly with.

Some maintenance at the start of each breeding season.

Each year the female lays a single brood consisting of four to six eggs somewhere between February, May.

The eggs are a pale bluish green.

With brown spotting and are incubated by.

The female for 18 to 21 days.

The young fledge between 35 to 42 days and stay with their parents for up to six months.

The most extended lifespan for a ringed common Raven is over 13 years, but these birds generally live between 10 and 15 years.

The second species we're going to look at now is the rook it's the second largest of the British corvids.

It is a large blackbird, similar in size to the carrion crow.

The rook's distinguishing features from other corvids.

Are its bare grey face and grey bill.

Although these features are not present in juvenile rooks, they can be used to identify adult birds.

Rooks are social birds, often seen in flocks, sometimes with other corvids like jackdaws and carrion crow crows.

Rooks are often admired for their intelligence, maligned for their habit of eating grain and revered for the excellent and bad omens they are thought to signify.

Rooks are all black birds and look.

Similar to the carrion crow except for the bare whitish skin around their bill.

They have untidy bulky plumage and steeply angled crown.

Female rooks are smaller than the males, but both genders look almost identical.

Juvenile rooks have fully feathered faces making them difficult to distinguish from crows during the late spring and early summer.

Rooks are medium sized birds, about the same size as carrion crows but smaller than ravens.

They have a body length of 44-46 cm and weigh between 325 and 575 grams.

Males have an average body weight of around 485 grams whilst females, being smaller, will weigh approximately 425 grams.

Their wingspan measures between 80 and 100 cm.

The males have longer wings on average.

Adult rooks make typical crow like sounds.

Their call is a raucous drawn out cawing and their song includes various other notes and phrases such as clicking and gurgling.

Rooks are omnivores that feed on invertebrates like worms and beetles during the warmer months and grain in the autumn and winter.

They will also consume small vertebrates, rodents.

Chicks, eggs, fruit berries and acorns.

Rooks find most of their food on the ground or in the soil, but they also visit bird tables.

These intelligent birds are known to cache their food by burying it in the ground and covering it with leaves or soil.

Young rooks feed on worms and other invertebrates.

Both parents feed the young while they're in the nest for about a month.

Then they continue feeding them for another six weeks or so whilst they learn to forage.

Rooks are usually found in or around arable and pasture farmland where they require large trees nearby for resting and roosting.

They may also forage in larger parks and gardens and use large trees on the edge of urban and suburban areas.

Rooks are widespread in the UK and.

Can be found almost everywhere except for.

The far northwest of Scotland.

Mountainous areas in Wales and Greater London.

They are also found in southern and central Europe and as far away as China and Japan.

Birds are often associated with people because they forage on farmland and along country roadsides.

While they feed on the ground, they rest, sleep and nest in trees.

Despite a significant decrease in the breeding population over the last few decades, rooks are still common in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 1 million breeding pairs.

Look and listen out for these birds in farmland and along roadsides.

Although generally absent from city centres, they may visit parks and more extensive village gardens.

Rooks are relatively long lived, with an average life expectancy of about six years for individuals who survive into adulthood.

However, they can live in the wild.

For up to 22 years.

Humans have traditionally been significant predators of rooks for pest control and food.

While these birds have relatively few predators, old, sick or injured individuals could fall prey to large birds of preys and carnivores, foxes.

Although not endangered, their population is decreasing.

The IUCN classifies them of as least concerned species and they are amber listed here in the uk.

Rooks build their nests communally.

These are known as rookeries, typically in stands of large trees.

The largest rookeries may contain thousands of nests, with dozens in a single tree.

The rook's nest is a large cup made of twigs lined with softer materials like dried grass and built by both males and females.

Rooks breed only once a year and construct their nests in late winter to lay their eggs in March.

The female incubates the eggs for 16 to 18 days and the chicks will fledge after 30 to 36 days.

Rooks lay a single brood of three or four heavily marked and spotted greenish eggs.

Each egg measures approximately 40 millimeters long and 28 millimeters wide.

Although rooks are believed to form lifelong pairs, they may not always be faithful to their partners.

However, they remain together within the flocks even during winter.

Rooks are highly social birds that live in colonies and show little aggression towards each other.

However, they can be aggressive when defending their partner and fighting over food, particularly during the winter months.

They are, though generally peaceful towards other bird species.

Because rooks roost communally in trees in woodlands and forested areas.

Some birds may continue to roost at the rookery throughout the year, although most gather into large flocks after breeding breeding season and roost elsewhere, often in the company of jackdaws.

Rooks do not migrate in the United Kingdom and Western Europe, where they are observed all year round.

But in eastern Asia, populations migrate between breeding ranges in the north and overwintering sites in the south.

During the 19th century they were introduced to New Zealand to control agricultural pests, but they are now considered a pest species in the country.

Although rooks, crows and ravens are related and members of the Corvidiae family and the Corvus genus, they are different birds with distinct behaviors and physical characteristics.

Whilst rooks can cause damage to cereal crops, they also help by eating insect pests.

A group of rooks is commonly called a parliament, but other collective nouns include a clamour and a building of rooks.

Rooks, like most species in the crow family, are intelligent birds.

They have demonstrated their problem solving abilities, teamwork and tool use skills in laboratory.

Settings, but tool use has yet to.

Be observed in nature.

Carrion and Hooded CROWS we have grouped.

These two species because although carrion and hooded crows may appear different, they are.

Genetically and behaviorally almost indistinguishable.

They can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, but tend to mate within their own kind.

Hybrids have indeterminate plumage between their parents, often making them outcast to birds of either population.

This keeps the populations distinct and is expected to eventually lead to their becoming full reproductively incompatible species.

The carrion crow, also known as just crow, is one of the most common corvids in the British Isles.

It is found in various habitats, including gardens.

Although widespread throughout most of the uk, it is less common in Ireland.

It consumes various foods such as carrion, invertebrates, eggs and fruit.

Crows are usually seen alone or in pairs, but they can form flocks and sometimes can be found with other corvid communities.

They are entirely black and can sometimes be confused with other corvid species, particularly juvenile rooks and ravens, and closely related Hooded crow was once considered a subspecies of the carrion crow, but it is now classified as a separate species.

Adult carrion crows have glossy black upper parts with a greenish tone on the head and upper wings, which changes to a purplish hue on the neck, back and rump.

These hues can be challenging to observe and they may appear as very subtle.

The bird's underparts are dull black with tight feathering across the chest, belly and vent.

The head is broad and flat across the crown and the black bill is medium length, thick and arched.

The inside of the mouth is grey and the nostrils are covered in short bristle like feathers.

The eyes are dark brown and the.

Legs dark grey or black.

The tail and wingtips are square.

Both the male and the female look very similar.

Juvenile birds lack the glossiness of the adults, and their feathers appear sootier.

They have grey eyes and a pink coloration on the edges and inside of their bill.

The crow's call is typically loud and harsh, similar to caw, caw, caw, or.

Craa, cra, cra, or often repeated.

The carrion crow mainly forages for food on the ground, taking worms, insects, seeds, berries, small mammals, and amphibians.

It is also known to feed on other birds, eggs and young, and scavenge for scraps and carrion.

The carrion crow is a bird native to central and western Europe, including the United Kingdom.

It is also found in eastern and central Asia, from Kazakhstan to China and Japan.

Its habitat extends south to Thailand and north to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's northeast.

The species has two subspecies, Corvus corone corone, which is native to Europe, and Corvus corone orientalis, which is only found in Asia.

The carrion crow is upright and confident on the ground.

It walks with a determined, strutting gait in flight.

During the breeding season, it often chases predators away from its feeding grounds or nest areas and even attacks birds of prey.

Carrion crows are usually solitary or found in pairs, though they occasionally form small flocks.

They can be found in various natural habitats, including farmland, wetlands, moorlands, woodlands, and in the open countryside.

They are most commonly found in urban and suburban areas with parks and gardens, particularly in Europe.

There are sufficient trees in all of these habitats for roosting and nesting.

These birds are monogamous and often mate for life.

During the breeding season.

The male and female build a large nest from sticks and twigs high up in a tree or occasionally on the top of a cliff, depending on the geographical location.

One brood of four to six brown speckled blue eggs are produced annually between March and June.

The female incubates the eggs for up to 21 days, and fledging usually occurs within one month.

Carrion crows have few predators and can live for up to 10 years in the wild, with some ringed crows recorded as living up to nearly 20 years.

The hooded crow, previously believed to be the same species as the carrion crow, is now recognized as a distinct species.

It is the same size as the carrion crow but has a grey body with a black head, chest, wings, and tail.

Hooded crows are found in northern and western Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man.

They replace the carrion crow where they are located, with a narrow band of overlap between the two species.

Hooded crows are widely distributed across northern, eastern and southeastern Europe and the Middle East.

Female hooded crows look identical to males in color and plumage.

The only way to tell them apart visually is by size, with the females being slightly smaller than the males.

However, both sexes have differing behaviors and can be identified by them.

Juvenile hooded crows are less vibrant in.

Color than adults, with a browner hue to their grey feathers.

Immature birds have blue grey eyes and their beaks are pinkish red instead of.

The adult bird's dark grey.

Male hooded crows are usually larger and heavier than females, and they can grow up to 48 to 54 centimeters in length and have a wingspan between 93 and 105 centimeters.

They will weigh typically between 395 to 600 grams.

The call of the hooded crow is similar to the familiar harsh cawing of the carrion crow, but is slightly softer and slightly less hoarse.

Hooded crows are omnivores with a primarily carnivorous diet.

They scavenge for carrion, roadkill, scraps, small mammals, birds, eggs and young nestlings.

They will also feed on mollusks, crabs and sea urchins at coastal loc locations, and they can consume small quantities of seeds and grain.

Young hooded crows feed almost entirely on insects in their first few weeks of life before adding grains and seeds to their diet as autumn approaches.

Hooded crows thrive in a mixed farmland landscapes with open land and sparse tree cover.

These birds are commonly found in parks, gardens, coastal regions and expanses of moorland.

In urban areas, they are relatively tolerant of human presence and are frequently seen scavenging on streets in busy city centers.

The hooded crow range extends from Ireland and western Scotland to Russia in the east, covering northern Europe.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland have the largest hooded crow populations north in Europe, whilst Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey have them in the south.

Russia is home to between 1 and 10 million resident hooded crows.

Hooded crows are widespread across their entire range, including Northern Ireland, western Scotland, and the Isle of Man, where spotting one is not considered unusual or rare.

During winter, the UK sees an increase in the resident population of hooded crows with the arrival of overwintering birds that migrate from Scandinavia after the breeding season.

These temporary residents may be seen along the eastern coasts of Scotland and England, and the last of the five corvid.

Species we'll be looking at today is.

The smallest of the five corvid species that are native in the uk, and that is the jackdaw, also known as Corvus.

Jackdaws can be found in various habitats across much of the British Isles.

They roost together in woodlands and often join flocks of rooks.

These brilliant and social birds are commonly found in towns and the countryside and are frequently associated with rooks and other crows.

Despite their smaller size, jackdaws are friendly and pleasant birds.

They have very dark grey plumage with a jet black crown and paler gray nape and sides of their face.

Their striking pale blue eyes are the most distinctive feature and their short stout bills distinguish them from from similar species.

Male and female jackdaws look very similar.

But juvenile birds can be identified by.

Their dark eyes and duller brownish plumage.

Due to their similar appearance, jackdaws are often confused with rooks as they tend to flock together.

However, rooks are much larger birds with darker eyes, longer bills and paler base.

They also have plumage similar to the large hooded crows in Scotland and Ireland.

Adult jackdaws are slightly larger than a magpie but have a much shorter tail.

They are compact birds with a total body length of around 34 centimeters or 13 inches.

Most full grown jackdaws weigh between 200 and 270 grams or 7 to about 9.5 ounces with males being the heavier sex.

Jackdaws are agile in flight with a.

Broad wingspan of between 67 to 74 centimeters or roughly 26 to 29 inches.

Jackdaws are known for their high pitched chuck call, which is not particularly musical.

That's an understatement.

They are optimistic omnivores that feed on various foods, including insects during the breeding season and plants like grains, seeds and fruits during the winter.

They're also known to scavenge for scraps and carrion, and they are infamous for raiding birds nests and stealing eggs from waterfowl and sea birds.

Some people consider them unwelcome visitors on garden bird tables.

Jackdaws can be found in various habitats.

But they will prefer open landscape with scattered trees and avoid large open areas without trees or densely wooded areas.

They are widespread throughout Europe, western Asia and marginally in North Africa, and can be found virtually throughout the United Kingdom except for some parts of the northwest in Scotland.

These birds generally forage on the ground and use trees and buildings for roosting and nesting.

They are social birds that feed and roost in groups ranging from small to large flocks.

In the United Kingdom, they are common in urban suburban farmland, open countryside areas as well as in the coastal regions.

Jackdaws can live for up to 18.

Years, but their average life expectancy is more like five years.

The population of adult jackdaws in the.

United Kingdom is estimated to be over 3 million breeding pairs.

Jackdaws are susceptible to predation with birds of prey and mammals like pine martens and house cats.

In certain areas, young jackdaws are targeted explicitly by the goshawk.

Jackdaws are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

They're also a green listed species in the United Kingdom with a healthy population.

Globally.

Jackdaws are classified as of least concern on the IUCN listings.

These birds are cavity nesters and construct their nests in various sheltered locations such as crevices in sea cliffs, caves, tree cavities, chimneys, nest boxes and even disused animal burrows.

Both male and female jackdaws work together to build a nest of twigs, mud, feathers and other materials to fit within the cavity.

These social birds typically nest in loose colonies with other jackdaw pairs.

Jackdaws usually begin breeding at 2 years old and nest between March and June.

They produce a single brood annually and the eggs hatch after about three weeks and the young birds fledge roughly one month later.

Jackdaws will typically lay four or five eggs, although their clutch size varies between three and eight.

Each egg has a pale bluish color with numerous dark speckles and measures approximately 3.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm wide.

Jackdaws are monogamous birds that pair for life.

They show an unusually high degree of sexual fidelity to their partner, although extra pair mating has been confirmed in some individuals.

Jackdaws are generally not aggressive birds, although they can dominate smaller songbirds around food sources.

They are social birds that roost and coexist peacefully with other corvids, particularly rooks.

That was a Wildlife Matters Introduction to.

British Corvids, Part 1 We hope you've.

Enjoyed discovering more about these fantastic birds with whom we share our towns, cities and countryside.

In Part two, we will examine the.

Three remaining native British corvids the Magnificent.

Magpie, the colorful J, and the Melodic Chuff.

We hope you enjoyed our first look at five of our native cormiers.

In the next Wildlife Matters podcast, we will examine the remaining three species in depth.

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Wildlife Matters will return in two weeks with part two of our introduction to British Corbet, but until then, Wild Ones I have been your host, Nigel Palmer and this is Wildlife Matters signing off.