Which corvids please?

[Tobyh]

I should know but I want to be sure. This was taken as the sun set yesterday at Camber Castle, Rye in Sussex. I was a fair distance off but think these were maybe Jackdaws? It looked like the castle was the roost site.

Not much to go on but any ideas please?



Thanks

TobyH

[RoyW]

They look like Jackdaws to me.
Carrion Crows and Rooks tend to have more obvious 'fingers' on the ends of their wings, and longer beaks.

They would almost certainly have been calling if they were gathering to roost so try listening to recordings of their calls to confirm (try the RSPB website or xeno/canto.org/europe

[FUDGEY]

Im going for Rooks as the wings look to broad for Jackdaws.

[faz]

not JDs wedge shape tail ravans ? nah looked again rooks to me

[solus]

Surely Rooks would be roosting in trees, not a castle? Much more likely a Jackdaw fort!

[Naturenutz]

How can you tell these are rooks and not crows.I would like to know as i regularly see large loose groups flying inland from the coast at dusk and assumed they were crows.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Naturenutz

How can you tell these are rooks and not crows.

These particular ones? You can't because they're Jackdaws!

Originally Posted by Naturenutz

I would like to know as i regularly see large loose groups flying inland from the coast at dusk and assumed they were crows.

In general it is often easiest to go by the calls (you will usually find that at least some will be calling - but to confuse think corvids will often roost in large mixed flocks during the winter).

If you aren't close enough to see the pale bill and face of adult rooks, you can use the shape of the wings and tail - these differences take a bit of learning though.

Rooks have obvious 'fingers' at the tip of the wing, with a 'pinched in' narrowing effect often visible at the base, and have relatively long tails that will always appear wedge shaped.

Carrion Crows also have obvious fingers at the wing tips, but with broader wing bases, and the tail is squarer ended (rounded when spread).

The smaller Jackdaws tend to have less distinct fingers at the wing tips, and have the same square ended tails as Carrion Crows (again rounded when spread).

[diggleken]

I'm with Roy on this, with good explanatory points on some differences to look for - in addition, the Jackdaw tail 'starts' virtually where the wing stops, the others(rooks/crows) show a bit of body before the tail starts.
The number of birds in shot in different poses help to see all relevant points.
Cheers
Ken

[Johnny81]

Even from a distance the jackdaw call is so distinctive, to me you just know it's a jackdaw. Did the original poster hear the call, maybe they could compare it to RSPB or xeno canto web sites to clinch it (if they remember it).

[Naturenutz]

personally i have no problem with id for jackdaws its crows and rooks as sillouettes that cause me problems ,the ones i see coming over the saltmarsh do not seem to be calling in the poor light.However thanks for all the replies on rook and crow differences.Although difficult i may now get it correct .
I agree those above are jackdaws in typical playfull mood.I really like jackdaws,so much personality.
We have jackdaws that nest on the bridge where i work.Already paired but not nesting yet like the raven i saw with a large twig/branch a week ago.