Social dominance in captive jackdaws (Corvus monedula).

Social hierarchy was studied in two flocks (14 and 10 individuals, respectively) of captive jackdaws. Parent birds acquired high-ranking positions during the nesting period. Outside the breeding season the hierarchy seemed to be stable. Males generally dominated females. When the top-ranking male arrived at the feeding place it tended to supplant one of the feeding birds rather than choose an unoccupied site.