Dark-eyed Junco - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Emberizidae (New World Sparrows - 48 Species)
SPECIES: Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Dark-eyed Junco
The Dark-eyed Junco is a common visitor to bird feeders during the winter months. Originally it was called a snowbird, because the seemed to appear just before or during a snowfall. Heavy snow seems to not bother them as they can be seen feeding during severe snow storms.
SIZE	Medium sized (5-6 1/2”) sparrow-like bird.
DESCRIPTION	The Dark-eyed Junco is generally dark gray to black on hood with a light colored belly. The bill is usually pinkish. Sexes similar, but males appear to have darker markings. --- See SPECIAL Below ---
NESTING	Clutch size ranges from 3-6 eggs, which are incubated in 12 to 14 days. The nest, built by the female is almost always on the ground under a rock, a log, or an upturned tree root. The nest is lined with fine grass or feathers.
RANGE	Common in Alaska, Canada and most of the U.S., except for a few areas in the west. Breeds in Alaska, across Canada and northern parts of U.S. Winters from the southern parts of its breeding range south to the southern United States and northern Mexico.
HABITAT	They habitat local parks and gardens and places where there are coniferous and mixed woods.
DIET	Their diet includes insects, seeds, fruits and berries. Seeds are his principal diet especially from such noxious plants as ragweed, goldenrod, smartweed and hog weed.
SPECIAL	There are several regional color variations in their plumage in different areas including. Slate-colored junco Oregon junco Gray-headed junco Pink-sided junco Red-backed junco White-winged Junco

INTERESTING FACTS

Desert birds

Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)

Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale)

Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)

Lucy's Warbler (Vermivora luciae)

Abert's Towhee (Pipilo aberti)

Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Dark-eyed Junco

Groton Township Tompkins County, New York


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Buttermilk Falls State Park Tompkins County, New York	Groton Township Tompkins County, New York

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Great Horned Owl Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes