The birds are living in small groups with a complex social structure in farmland, open woodland, on coastal cliffs, and in urban settings. 

Western jackdaws are voluble birds. The main call, frequently given in flight, is a metallic and squeaky chyak-chyak or kak-kak. This is a contact or greeting call. A feeding call made by adults to call young, or males when offering food to their mates, has been transcribed as kiaw or kyow. Females in return give a more drawn out version when begging for food from males, written as kyaay, tchaayk or giaaaa.

They are known to show interest in shiny objects such as jewellery.

Jackdaws are intelligent birds, and have been observed using tools.