
Often called "snowbird," this species shows a tremendous amount of variation across the continent. The 12 subspecies fall into six identifiable groups, described below. In all plumages, white outer tail feathers are obvious in flight. All but one subspecies show a pale pinkish bill. In most populations, females are paler and more brownish than males. All have white bellies. Juveniles show basic pattern of adults, but with extensive streaking throughout.
Slate-colored Junco: Uniform dark gray upperparts, sides, and hood, sharply contrasting with white belly. Rare individuals have two white wing bars. This is the only race common east of the Great Plains.
White-winged Junco: Similar to Slate-colored, but lighter gray overall with darker lores, two whitish wing bars, and more white in the tail. This is the largest subspecies.
Oregon Junco: Dark gray to black hood contrasts with warm brown upperparts and pinkish brown sides. This is the smallest subspecies.
Pink-sided Junco: Similar to Oregon Junco, but with much paler gray hood, contrasting dark lores, and pinkish sides.
Gray-headed Junco: Pale gray overall, with blackish lores and a well defined rufous back. There is very little contrast between the pale gray hood and sides, and the whitish belly.
Red-backed Junco: Nearly identical to Gray-headed, but with a bicolored bill (dark upper mandible, pale lower). Some individuals show rufous on the wing coverts and tertials.
Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 23 (cm)
Voice:
Song is a musical trill, all on one pitch. Call is a sharp tsit. Red-backed Junco's song begins with two slurred notes, followed by a dry trill, similar to song of Yellow-eyed Junco.
Habitat:
Nests in coniferous and mixed forests, winters in brushy areas, roadsides, residential areas.
Behavior:
During winter, this is among the most common feeder birds across the North American continent.
Feeding:
Forages for seeds and insects, usually on or close to the ground.
Field Notes

In each of the last three winters suspected back-cross Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Juncos X White-throated Sparrows have shown up at my feeder in CT. White in the supraloral area, a ghost of the throat and malar pattern, wing bars, and brownish streaking in the flanks lead me to this conclusion. Several photos in the Community gallery above.
Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.
Expanded Life History
Feed Ecology And Diet | Contribute Content |
Nesting Habits | Contribute Content |
Migration Status | Contribute Content |
Conservation Status | Contribute Content |
Local Sites to Spot | Contribute Content |
Abundance Status | Contribute Content |
Adult Male Description | Contribute Content |
Adult Female Description | Contribute Content |
ITIS Taxonomic Number | Contribute Content |
Sonogram | Contribute Content |
Courtship | Contribute Content |
Reproductive Characteristics | Contribute Content |
Relationship to Humans | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Size & Shape |
I am far from the expert on PS Juncos, but separation from Oregon Junco is more challenging than indicated. Some Oregon Juncos can approach GH Juncos in paleness-of-hood, and some Oregon Juncos can also appear to have dark lores at certain angles. GH Junco has more white in tail and is larger than Oregon Junco, and both of these characters should be looked for. by Steven Mlodinow on June 22, 2010 at 04:15 pm |
ID Tips - Color & Pattern | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Habitat | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Behavior | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Wingspan | Contribute Content |
ID Tips - Weight | Contribute Content |
Breeding | Contribute Content |
Cool Facts | Contribute Content |
Local Knowledge | Contribute Content |
Post a Question
Sightings
Date | Submitted By | Count |
---|---|---|
09/18/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
08/14/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/24/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/10/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/10/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/03/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
07/03/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/26/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/19/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
06/12/18 | Steven Mauvais, OR | # |
Recent Activity
Activity | Date & Time |
---|---|
Bryan Ward added Dark-eyed Junco to their Whispering Way, South Charleston, WV smart list | 3/24/2013 at 9:24AM |
Bob Archer added Dark-eyed Junco to their Camassia Natural Area smart list | 2/17/2013 at 3:10PM |
Emma Whitchurch-Ivy added Dark-eyed Junco to their Home smart list | 1/15/2013 at 9:05AM |
Bob Archer added Dark-eyed Junco to their Bybee Lake Bike Path smart list | 11/19/2011 at 6:35PM |
Jacob Parks added Dark-eyed Junco to their North Albina smart list | 11/02/2011 at 1:31AM |
Dan Mitchell added Dark-eyed Junco to their Mitchell's Backyard, Tigard, Oregon smart list | 8/09/2011 at 6:17PM |
Mark S. Szantyr added a note to Dark-eyed Junco Notes | 7/14/2011 at 12:57PM |
Layton Wedgeworth added Dark-eyed Junco to their Office smart list | 2/26/2011 at 5:01PM |
Mark. Thanks for supplying photos in addition to your note. It was helpful to see the detail you reference.