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Bird✓ Protected species

Magpie / Crow

Pica pica / Corvus corone

✓What to do NOW

  1. 1Cover with a towel and pick up restraining the wings along the body
  2. 2Watch out for the beak — corvids have a strong, precise bite
  3. 3Place in a ventilated dark box
  4. 4Check for wounds, leg or wing fractures
  5. 5Contact the CRAS — corvids rehabilitate well but require specific care

✗NEVER do this

  • ✗Do not attempt to hand-rear corvid chicks (imprinting is difficult to manage)
  • ✗Do not release too early — they need behavioural rehabilitation
  • ✗Do not keep in a small cage for long — they are intelligent animals and stress easily

⚠ Important note

Magpies and crows are among the most intelligent birds in Europe. Chicks fallen from the nest (recognisable by incomplete feathers) must be taken to the CRAS immediately — human imprinting at this stage makes re-wilding very difficult. Adult corvids often fully rehabilitate even from serious trauma.

⚖ Legal protection

Protected by Law 157/1992. The jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive.

Also known as

eurasian magpiehooded crowcarrion crowjackdawjayravenrook

Did you find a magpie / crow right now?

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