New World sparrows (Passerellidae)
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis. Seeds for most of the year; insects in the breeding season.
New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
- Scientific name
- Junco hyemalis
- Length
- 5.5–6.3 in
- Weight
- 0.6–1.1 oz
- Nest
- Cup on the ground, hidden under roots, banks or overhangs
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
Identification
- Slate-grey hood with a white belly (eastern 'Slate-colored')
- Pale pink bill
- White outer tail feathers flash in flight
Voice
Trilled musical song; sharp 'tick' calls.
Diet and feeding
Seeds for most of the year; insects in the breeding season.
Dark-eyed Juncos by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alaska | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | April–July |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | June–July |
| California | Year-round resident | April–July |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Connecticut | Winter visitor | — |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Kansas | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Winter visitor | — |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Maryland | Winter visitor | — |
| Massachusetts | Winter visitor | — |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Montana | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | May–July |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | June–July |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | June–July |
| New Jersey | Winter visitor | — |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | May–July |
| New York | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | June–July |
| North Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| North Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Northwest Territories | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Nunavut | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | June–July |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Rhode Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | June–July |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| South Dakota | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Winter visitor | — |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Year-round resident | May–July |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Yukon | Summer breeder | June–July |
Frequently asked
What do juncos eat?
Seeds for most of the year; insects in the breeding season. At feeders: white proso millet, hulled sunflower, cracked corn.
How big is a Dark-eyed Junco?
5.5–6.3 in long and 0.6–1.1 oz.
Do juncos use birdhouses?
No. Cup on the ground, hidden under roots, banks or overhangs.
Sources
- Dark-eyed Junco — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Dark-eyed Junco life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Dark-eyed Junco — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.