A new study by researchers from the University of Cambridge focusing on the Eurasian jackdaw bird found that they scare off other bird competitors with an evil eye glance. Jackdaws are in the crow family, and they live in Europe, western parts of Asia, and North Africa.

A new study by researchers from the University of Cambridge focusing on the Eurasian jackdaw bird suggests they scare off avian competitors with an evil eye glance.

Members of the crow family, jackdaws have striking white irises and are found in Europe, western parts of Asia, and North Africa.

For the study, researchers put up one of four circles in wild jackdaw birdhouses.

One of the circles had a picture of a jackdaw face with white eyes, a second had the bird’s face with black eyes, another was a black circle only showing the eyes, and the fourth was just a black circle for control.

The circles were placed near the opening of a birdhouse, so that they were visible to the jackdaws, while researchers tracked and recorded how long the birds stayed in the different nests.

Results of the study showed the birds were less likely to go near the birdhouse that had the circle of the jackdaw with white eyes. Researchers believe that the eyes of a jackdaw might be one way that they defend their nest from competing birds.

This study is the first to show that animals other than primates communicate with their eyes.