Dark-eyed Junco flashing white outer tail feathers (photo by Kelly Colgan Azar).
A keen visitor of winter feeders, the Dark-eyed Junco returns to southern Wisconsin as the first dustings of frost glint in the morning light, and the prairies’ colors settle into the tawny hues of late fall. At Faville Grove Sanctuary, we’ve been joined by Dark-eyed Juncos since mid-September, and they’ll keep us company throughout the winter’s field work.
Being voracious seed eaters, Dark-eyed Juncos gregariously scour the prairies and woods for their remaining seed stock, mostly foraging along the ground for bounties knocked loose from the swaying, dried plants above. You’ll hear their chittering calls from the ground or in flight, often forming a chorus of twinkling kews as groups fly about.
Fifteen varieties of Dark-eyed Juncos have been described in North America, many of which were previously thought to be distinct species. The most dominant eastern variety is the “slate-colored”—characterized by a gray head, back, and sides, with a white belly, pink bill, and white outer tail feathers. The “Oregon” variety is dominant out west, and is identified by their dark hood, brown back and rufous flanks. Other varieties include the “white-winged” and “pink-sided” juncos of the Rockies and western Great Plains, and the “gray-headed” and “red-backed” juncos of the southwest. Some populations of junco varieties are migratory, while others may be year-round residents. The migratory juncos have been found to have longer wings, on average, than their nonmigratory counterparts.
After they’ve arrived, our slate-colored Dark-eyed Juncos are hard to miss—you’ll likely catch a glimpse of their white outer tail feathers in flight, or as they hop along the ground beneath feeders or at the base of trees and shrubs. Often referred to as “snowbirds” affectionately, they truly are a staple of our winter landscape!
Written by Tucker Sanborn, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward
Cover photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. A slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco with gray feathers, a white underside, and pink bill is perched on a branch.
