New World sparrows (Passerellidae)
Baby juncos: from egg to fledgling
A Dark-eyed Junco lays 3–5 eggs. They hatch after 11–13 days, and the young leave the nest 9–13 days later — about 20–26 days from egg to fledgling.
- Eggs per clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Time in the nest
- 9–13 days
- Egg to fledgling
- About 20–26 days
- Broods per year
- 1–3 per season
- Nest
- Cup on the ground, hidden under roots, banks or overhangs
- Uses nest boxes
- No
Stage by stage
- Eggs (11–13 days): 3–5 eggs per clutch. Most songbirds start incubating when the last or second-to-last egg is laid, so the young hatch close together; owls and hawks start with the first egg, so their chicks hatch days apart.
- Nestlings (9–13 days): the young hatch with little or no down and their eyes closed. They grow fast on a diet the parents bring in. In the breeding season juncos mainly eat beetles, caterpillars and moths.
- Fledglings: after leaving the nest, young juncos are fully feathered but short-tailed and clumsy. They spend days to weeks on low branches or the ground while the parents keep feeding them.
- More broods: 1–3 per season. Pairs often start a new nest soon after the first young become independent.
When juncos nest, state by state
Nesting starts earliest in Arizona (Apr) and latest in Alaska (Jun). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Jun–Jul |
| Alberta | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | Apr–Jul |
| British Columbia | Jun–Jul |
| California | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | May–Jul |
| Idaho | May–Jul |
| Maine | Jun–Jul |
| Manitoba | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | Jun–Jul |
| Nevada | May–Jul |
| New Brunswick | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | Jun–Jul |
| New Mexico | May–Jul |
| New York | May–Jul |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Jun–Jul |
| Northwest Territories | Jun–Jul |
| Nova Scotia | Jun–Jul |
| Nunavut | Jun–Jul |
| Ontario | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | May–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | May–Jul |
| Prince Edward Island | Jun–Jul |
| Quebec | Jun–Jul |
| Saskatchewan | Jun–Jul |
| Utah | May–Jul |
| Vermont | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | May–Jul |
| West Virginia | May–Jul |
| Wisconsin | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | Jun–Jul |
| Yukon | Jun–Jul |
Found a baby Dark-eyed Junco?
- Feathered, hopping, can grip your finger: a fledgling. This is a normal stage. Keep pets and children away and watch from a distance; the parents are usually close by.
- Bare skin or only pin feathers: a nestling that fell. If you can see the nest, put it back. Touching it won't make the parents abandon it — that is a myth.
- Injured, cold, covered in flies, or caught by a cat: contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. In the US and Canada, ahnow.org finds the nearest one.
- Don't give water or food. Baby birds can choke, and the wrong food can kill them.
More about juncos
Frequently asked
How long do baby juncos stay in the nest?
About 9–13 days after hatching. Eggs take 11–13 days to hatch, so it is roughly 20–26 days from the last egg to the young leaving.
How many eggs does a Dark-eyed Junco lay?
3–5 eggs per clutch, with 1–3 per season.
Where do juncos nest?
Cup on the ground, hidden under roots, banks or overhangs.
What should I do if I find a baby Dark-eyed Junco on the ground?
If it has feathers and hops, it is a fledgling and its parents are almost certainly nearby — leave it. If it is naked or has pin feathers, put it back in the nest if you can. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if it is injured.