Dark-eyed juncos may not be the flashiest in the neighborhood, but these adorable little birds have more to offer than meets the eye. Almost anywhere you go in the U.S. or Canada, there is a species of dark-eyed junco there. From their behaviors to their habits, here are 16 interesting facts about dark-eyed juncos that will surely make you appreciate their unique charm.
1. Dark-eyed Junco’s plumage varies from region to region.
One of the most interesting aspects of dark-eyed juncos is their diverse appearance. These juncos show color variations depending on where they live. There are as many as 15 separate subspecies of the dark-eyed junco, some easy to tell apart and others showing only subtle differences.
Slate-colored juncos are a sooty gray above with pale bellies and make up most of the Canadian and eastern U.S. population. Oregon juncos have a very dark head and lighter body, and make up much of the west coast population. Gray-headed juncos can be found in the southern Rocky Mountains while Pink-sided Juncos breed in the northern Rocky Mountains. The list goes on and on, a junco for every region! In some places their ranges overlap and you may be able to see more than one type.
2. Males and females can have slight color variations.
With all those variations of juncos, it is hard to say any one rule applies to them all. For some subspecies, difference between males and females are hard to notice or barely exist. But some species do have differences between the sexes you can see.
For the common slate-colored juncos, males upper half tends to be either a medium or dark gray. Females are usually lighter in color, and tend to have a noticeable brownish hue rather than solid gray. Similarly, male Oregon juncos have a very dark head and more boldly contrasted colors, while females have a lighter gray head and less contrast.
3. Dark-eyed Juncos forage on the ground.
Juncos are sometimes referred to as “ground dwellers” because they spend so much of their time there. They can often be found searching for seeds and insects on the forest floor. One study from New Hampshire found that juncos spent 65% of their time on the ground, 20% in shrubs, and 16% in low trees. While on the ground they prefer to hop around rather than walk.
If you watch them long enough you will probably see them do the “junco shuffle”, where they quickly hop forwards then backwards, scratching the ground. This helps them pick through leaf litter, seed shells and whatever else is on the ground to uncover hidden insects or seeds.
4. Migration Varies Depending On Their Location.
Dark-eyed juncos typically travel south during the winter months. However, how south they go depends on their summer location. For example, slate-colored juncos that spend the summer breeding in Alaska and Canada usually migrate long distances south into the United States to spend the winter. So for many states in the eastern U.S., they are seen as winter birds.
Other populations like those in the Rocky Mountains, may only migrate short distances to the plains or northern Mexico. There are even some in the Appalachian Mountains and southern California that don’t migrate at all.
5. Dark-eyed Juncos are speedy nest builders.
When it comes to building their nests, juncos are not ones to procrastinate. They exhibit speed in constructing their nests, often finishing them in just 3-7 days. Females