Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Description: Generally has a brown or dark grey
medium-sized sparrow shaped body. Its short stout bill is a pinkish hue. It has
a relatively long that is made of conspicuous white feathers. There are two
different types of juncos, Oregon and Slate-colored. Oregon junco males have
dark black “hoods” which cover all of their face down to their neck while the
females and juveniles have gray hoods. Slate-colored juncos usually have a
brownish tinge on their backs and the rest of their body being dark gray, with
the exception of their white bellies.
Habitat: Prefer coniferous or mixed-coniferous forests for breeding, but can be found in open woodlands, fields, parks, roadsides, and backyards during the winter.
Diet: In the summer months, about half of their diet consists of insects and arthropods while the other half is made up of seeds. Young juncos mainly eat arthropods. During the winter months, they tend to eat seeds and berries. Throughout the year, the juncos obtain their food primarily by foraging on the ground.
Behaviors:
Miscellaneous:
Habitat: Prefer coniferous or mixed-coniferous forests for breeding, but can be found in open woodlands, fields, parks, roadsides, and backyards during the winter.
Diet: In the summer months, about half of their diet consists of insects and arthropods while the other half is made up of seeds. Young juncos mainly eat arthropods. During the winter months, they tend to eat seeds and berries. Throughout the year, the juncos obtain their food primarily by foraging on the ground.
Behaviors:
- A distinct social hierarchy is upheld within junco flocks
- When they forage, they do so in groups, scratching the ground with their feet to uncover any buried food
- Their white tail feathers are flashed to warn others in their flock of danger. As they hurry back to their homes in times of danger, their call intensifies, also warning other members of their flock of the danger at hand.
- The male sings from a branch high up in a tree simultaneously defending his territory and attracting a mate. Once two birds have reached the courtship phase, both proceed to hop on the ground with drooped wings and splayed tails, to showcase the white of the tail feathers.
- Females build the nest, which is almost always located on the ground, whether in a depression or hidden under grass, a log, a rock, or tree roots.
Miscellaneous:
- A recent estimate set the junco’s total population at approximately 630 million individuals.