Flittering Dark-eyed Juncos Abound

Dark-eyed Junco photo by Mark Schmitt

The last few weeks have been the return of the Dark-eyed Junco.  These gregarious members of the sparrow family flock to feeders every winter across North America.  They are a joy to watch because of their flight habits of “flittering” around from place to place in flocks.  They appear to be chasing each other, their dark tails with two white outer feathers, make a conspicuous striped appearance to their tails as they fly.

This is what they sound like:[audio:http://www.buildyourownbirdhouseplans.com/audio/DarkeyedJunco.mp3]

Dark-eyed Juncos are 5 1/2 – 6 1/2 inches tall, weigh about one ounce or less and have a wingspan of 7 – 10 inches.  The “Oregon” variety male is boldly marked with blackish and brown with a distinct black hood and a pinkish bill.  The female tends to be duller and browner than the male.  As I said, the white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight.

The Dark-eyed Junco is a common sight at winter bird feeders across North America.  Northern birds migrate further south but many populations are permanent residents.  In winter, juncos are also familiar in and around towns.  These birds forage on the ground but will readily go to tray feeders in your backyard.  In winter, they often forage in flocks that may comprise several different races, eating mainly insects and seeds.

Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout North America.  They usually nest in a cup shaped depression on the ground, well hidden by vegetation or other material, although they are sometimes found in the lower branches of a shrub or tree.  the nests have an outer diameter of about 5 inches and are lined with fine grasses and hair.

Normally two broods of 4 eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are incubated by the female for 12 to 13 days. The slightly glossy egg shells are grayish or pale bluish-white in color and heavily spotted (sometimes splotched) with various shades of brown, purple or grey. The spotting is concentrated at the large end of the egg. Young leave nest between 11 and 14 days of hatching.

 Dark-eyed Juncos are a treat to watch as they arrive in flocks, forage for awhile and then, all of a sudden, fly back up into the trees as if on cue.  They are so quick, they are on the ground one second and perched in the tree the next.  Enjoy them while they are here!