This species inhabits a great variety of open country, preferably with scattered trees. It favors mixed farmland, parks and gardens, churchyards, wooded steppe, quarries and coastal cliffs. Across Europe it is only absent from high mountain plateau, tundra, extensive wetland or afforested areas and a few small islands . The species forms a long term pair bond. Egg-laying occurs from late April in Britain and northern Europe, mid-April in central Europe, and the first half of May in north-west Russia, central Asia and Kashmir. The nest varies in size, but can be massive as a fresh nest is built each year on top of older ones. The foundation is a mass of branches and twigs, interspersed with mud and dung and the inner cup is quite deep and thick and constructed of mosses, rotten wood, feathers and fur and wool, usually in some cavity of some kind. Clutches can be from three to eight eggs but usually four. It feeds mostly on the ground and is omnivorous.

Observed in a small park off the old town square - Prague, Czech Republic - September, 2016

(Please view in Light Box or in larger sizes for best effect)