All juncos have prominent white outer tail feathers. Home › Scientific Name Style - Dark Eyed Junco - Spiral Notebook. Dark-eyed Juncos breed in coniferous or mixed-coniferous forests across Canada, the western U.S., and in the Appalachians. Birders trying to identify subspecies are advised to consult detailed identification references. However, the numbers – and variety – peak between October and March. This bird looks very different from the other subspecies, with only grey and white on the body. Northern birds usually migrate farther south; southern populations are permanent residents or altitudinal migrants, moving only a … Far western “Oregon” juncos wear a black hood that contrasts with a rusty back. The six flavors of junco were long considered separate species. Common and conspicuous winter visitors, Dark-eyed Juncos frequent Colorado’s seed feeders and rural roadsides. Male Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored form), Larimer County, Colorado, 1/04. These birds are easily recognized by their black or dark gray hood contrasting with a rusty brown back and flanks, white lower che… There she works to protect her tiny corner of the planet through wildlife rehabilitation and outdoor education with elementary school kids – two load-bearing columns of Nature’s future. It occurs in a small range in the central United States. The third subspecies is the Oregon Dark-eyed Junco. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. The six basic groups were formerly considered separate species (and the Guadalupe junco frequently still is), but they interbreed extensively in areas of contact. The Oregon subspecies has a dark gray or black hood (males) or dark brown hood (females) with pinkish-brown sides and a gray back. Dark-eyed juncos reappear ... Linda Meerten Meer There are more than a dozen types of dark-eyed juncos across the United States, like this Oregon junco. Here one is munching on . This video has no audio. Their bright white outer tail feathers flash conspicuously but disappear as soon as birds land. Explore Dark-eyed Junco Take Merlin with you in the field! It has a dark brown head, brown back, and white belly. Dark-Eyed Junco perched at Lake Pueblo State Park, Colorado. Medium-sized sparrow with round head, small, pale bill, and long tail with white outer feathers. While the dark-eyed junco is one species, there are multiple subspecies that can look very different depending on their location, since plumage differences between these birds are most notable for different geographic populations. The bill is pale but may show a dark tip, and lighter gray females may show a faint brown wash over their back and wings. Regular price $12.00 Sale price $0.00 Unit price / per. American Robins, Mourning Doves, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, House Wrens, Barn Swallows are more common in summer. All the populations except the Red-backed are found in … The fourth and last subspecies is the White … Both forms have pink bill and dark gray tail with white outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight. This subspecies, along with the Slate-colored, are the two most widely known types. "Oregon" form has dark hood and brown back. And search more of iStock's library of royalty-free stock images that features Animal photos available for quick and easy download. Junco: Colorado Springs, Colorado (CO) The dark-eyed juncos that hang around the feeder in the backyard like to take shelter in a lilac bush outside our kitchen window. John Jay Audubon once referred to the junco as “the little Snowbird,” since in many places it showed up only in the winter. A pink-sided dark-eyed junco in Elizabeth, Colorado. In fact, the species encompasses up to seven subspecies, some of which were once considered full species themselves. The several subspecies make up two large or polytypic groups and three to four small or monotypic ones. The fourth and last subspecies is the White-winged Dark-eyed Junco. The mountains of Colorado, Utah and Nevada are the main summer range of the gray-headed junco. The Dark-eyed Junco is a medium-sized sparrow with a rounded head, a short, stout bill and a fairly long, conspicuous tail. The picture was taken in El Paso County, Colorado on 10 March 2008. It can indeed be a challenge to differentiate pink-sideds from Oregons. Copyright 1994 – 2020 Colorado Central Publishing, LLC. Box 946 – Salida, CO 81201 – Ph:719-530-9063 The most common junco in central Colorado is the gray-headed subspecies (also referred to as a “form”), with gray sides and a brown patch high on its gray back. "Pink-sided" form around Rocky Mountains has a slate-gray head, brown back, and pinkish-brown sides. Return to Birds of … Slate-colored form is slate-gray overall with darker head. That species comes in four different races (maybe), and this one appears to be the Oregon Race version. Some subspecies overlap, which can give backyard birders even more reason to attract juncos and enjoy a greater variety of birds at their feeders. Dark-eyed Juncos are birds of the ground. But they are in fact the same species. A dark-eyed Junco having a snack. A field guide is the best place to look for complete illustration of ranges and plumages, but in general there are two widespread forms of the Dark-eyed Junco: “slate-colored” junco of the eastern United States and most of Canada, which is smooth gray above; and “Oregon” junco, found across much of the western U.S., with a dark hood, warm brown back and rufous flanks. The slate-colored junco has a uniformly dark gray head and back, with the gray stretching to the chest as well. Typically, male of western population ("Oregon Junco") has black hood, chestnut mantle, white underparts with buff sides. Gray-headed form has gray head, rump, breast, and sides, and rust-brown back. All juncos have pale bills and white outer tail feathers that they flash in flight. Dark-eyed Juncos are more common in winter. The Gray-headed Junco is the only population that breeds in Colorado. This junco has the widest overall range of all the group of sub-species of the Dark-eyed Junco in North America. The Oregon Dark-eyed Junco, which breeds in the west, couldn't be confused with the Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco of the east (see below). Quantity. Photo: Rick Cameron/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) ID Tips Dark-eyed Juncos, Backyard Gems, Come in a Dazzling Array of Colors . Medium-sized sparrow with white outer tail feathers and small bill. Mailing: P.O. Like the other dark-eyed juncos, its bill is pale pink. Female and young "Slate-colored" form are variable; can be much browner than the males. She studies the evolution and ecology of behavior and physiology in a songbird species, the Dark-eyed Junco, is currently engaged in research on animal migration and urban ecology. Return to Forest Birds. The Dark-eyed Junco is one of those mystery birds. "Gray-headed" form has gray head, dark face, and bright reddish brown back; very similar to "Red-backed" form but with all-pale bill. Eastern male ("Slate-colored Junco") is dark slate-gray on head, upper breast, flanks, and upperparts, with white lower breast and belly. Rehabilitation of Leadville’s Tabor Opera House. It is easily recognizable, with a sharply contrasting black head and tan, light grey, and pink body. Regardless of the subspecies, one of a male junco’s most appreciated characteristics (at least by me) is his propensity to set his lovely, rapid, bell-like trill ringing through the late winter air on a sunny day. Breeding range of Dark-eyed Junco in Alaska Add to Cart This 118 page spiral notebook with ruled line paper is a perfect companion for keeping track of your birding adventures or everyday life. Among the 15 described races, six forms are easily recognizable in the field and five used to be considered separate species until the 1980s. Add to Cart Shopping lists, school notes or poems - 118 page spiral notebook with ruled line paper is a perfect companion in everyday life. They typically live in forest understories but often visit feeders, especially during winter. An Oregon race of the Dark-eyed Junco perches on a branch in a Colorado woodland. Breeding range of Dark-eyed Juncos in the Pacific States Dark-eyed Juncos breed widely throughout forested and mountain regions of Washington, Oregon, and California. During winter and migration, the Oregon and Pink-sided subspecies can also be seen. The rest of us can just sit back and enjoy their perky presence and eye-catching plumage variability. "Oregon" form of western North America has dark brown hood, light brown back, buffy sides, and white belly. This is a Dark-eyed Junco. "Gray-headed" form of interior western North America has mostly gray head and body with reddish-brown back. Those found in the eastern half of the U.S. are charcoal gray on top with white bellies and known as slate-colored … Printify Scientific Name Style - Dark Eyed Junco - Spiral Notebook. The white-winged junco looks like a light version of a slate-colored, except that you can see white wing bars (short strips of white about mid-wing). Habitat: Live in spruce-fir, ponderosa pine and aspen forests, and in wooded riparian areas to 11,000 feet in summer and 8,000 feet in winter. Free, global bird ID and field guide app powered by your sightings and media. Dark-Eyed Junco Baby Chick. The Dark-eyed Junco is currently divided into six distinct populations that include the following: Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged, Slate-colored, Gray-headed, and Red-backed Juncos. Return to Dark-eyed Junco. Medium-sized sparrow with small, pale bill and white outer tail feathers. Colorado Springs, CO ... During this time you have the unique opportunity to see all five subspecies of Dark-eyed junco gracing the yard area from late October through March. The Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are also referred to as "Snowbirds" as they breed in North America (i.e., Alaska and Canada) and migrate in large flocks to the lower United States, Mexico or Central America for the winter. The Cassiar form has a darker gray hood contrasting sharply with a paler gray back washed with a touch of brown. As you drive along a rural road in winter, check any group of small dark birds flying from the road’s edge. You’ll often hear their high chip notes, given almost absent-mindedly while foraging, or intensifying as they take short, low flights through cover. It is a small bird that feeds together in flocks. The Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) is the most common sub-species of the Dark-eyed Junco. They’re easy to recognize by their crisp (though extremely variable) markings and the bright white tail feathers they habitually flash in flight. "Red-backed" form of southwestern U.S. has gray head, dark face, and bright reddish brown back. Regular price $13.00 Sale price $0.00 Unit price / per. The Oregon dark-eyed junco is the most widespread western plumage variation of the species. That fleeting glimpse of white tells you that you’ve likely just startled a group of Audubon’s “snowbirds.”. © Jack and Shirley Foreman | Macaulay Library, See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. … Junco hyemalis In winter over much of the continent, flocks of Juncos can be found around woodland edges and suburban yards, feeding on the ground, making ticking calls as they fly up into the bushes. This subspecies, the only one to summer in the state, breeds in the high-country forests of Colorado. Diet: … This bird looks very different from the other subspecies, with only grey and white on the body. There are an additional 12 subspecies divided among these populations. ©Colorado Central Magazine “Dark-eyed” differentiates these birds from Yellow-eyed Juncos, which occasionally wander from Mexico into extreme southeastern Arizona. If the head is so dark that you can’t distinctly see the eyes, it’s probably – PROBABLY – an Oregon. This bird is mostly gray, including its head, back and wings, but the center of its back is a bright reddish brown. It also is about 12% bigger than the Slate-colored. The species name hyemalis translates to “of or belonging to winter,” because also in Sweden (home of Carl Linnaeus, who named the bird), juncos appeared only in the winter. If the eyes are darker than the rest of the head, pink-sided becomes a good guess. The pine forests of the Black … Look to see how dark their heads are compared to their black eyes. The dark-eyed Junco is common in Southern Oregon. Medium-sized sparrow with round head, long tail, and fairly small, pale bill. Some experts say that if the hood in clearly defined, then it is the Oregon Race. It is found in every state west of Nebraska, as well as parts of British Columbia and Mexico. There is a huge range of geographic variation in the Dark-eyed Junco. The durable printed cover makes the owner proud to carry it everywhere. The durable printed cover makes … Dark-eyed Junco bird baby … When surprised, a junco flock explodes into a twittering, scattering cloud like leaves whipped around in a wind gust. Male "Slate-colored" form is mostly gray with white belly. John Jay Audubon once referred to the junco as “the little Snowbird,” since in many places it showed up only in the winter. Dark-eyed Juncos are neat, even flashy little sparrows that flit about forest floors of the western mountains and Canada, then flood the rest of North America for winter. Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout North America, ranging from subarctic taiga to high-altitude mountain forests in Mexico and Central America south to Panama. This species has still not been completely untangled. Dark-eyed Junco: Medium-sized sparrow with considerable geographic color variation, although all exhibit a pink bill, dark eyes, white belly, and dark-centered tail with white outer feathers. White outer tail feathers (present even in juvenile) and high, thin chip notes are distinctive. This is a "Cassiar" Junco (cismontanus subspecies of the Slate-colored Junco group), showing contrast between the darker hood and the rest of the upperparts. Juncos spend the Fall and Winter here in the park. They hop around the bases of trees and shrubs in forests or venture out onto lawns looking for fallen seeds. Migratory Status: Gray-headed Juncos are year-round residents and the only breeding subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco in Rocky Mountain National Park. Quantity. "White-winged" form resembles "Slate-colored" form but has two white wingbars. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Dark-eyed juncos are unique sparrows that nest on or near the ground in forests. Breeds in forests; "Slate-colored" form is mostly clean gray with white belly. Return to Gray Birds. This video has no audio. After 25 years of watching the natural world in Colorado, Tina now watches it in San Diego County, California. The fourth and last subspecies is the White-winged Dark-eyed Junco. The Natural World is generously sponsored by Ann and Henry Klaiman. Product #: gm182404243 $ 33.00 iStock In stock The "cismontanus" subspecies breeds in the Yukon Territory and British Columbia. Also known as Oregon Junco, perched on lichen-covered log. Dark Eyed Junco - Spiral Notebook. A long-tailed, small-bodied sparrow, it usually sports a dark “hood” (head, throat, nape) that makes the pink bill easy to spot and a dark back, both contrasting sharply with a white chest and belly. Juncos are among the most common songbirds of North America. Dark-eyed Juncos breed widely in the mountains of western Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Among the 15 described races, six forms are easily recognizable in the field and five used to be considered separate species until the 1980s. Common and conspicuous winter visitors, Dark-eyed Juncos frequent Colorado’s seed feeders and rural roadsides. Females and immatures of the "Oregon" form have less contrast than the males, with a grayish hood and brown back and sides. The only other area that seems to show a concentration is the Colorado front range, where observers spend a lot of time looking at junco flocks. I say “usually” because this species exhibits greater plumage variation than any other bird species in the U.S. Juvenile juncos are streaky, but note the white outer tail feathers and round-headed, small-billed general appearance. Often feeds on ground; also comes to feeders. Upper mandible of bill is darker gray than lower. As if sparrows are not hard enough to decipher, what’s even harder are the races or subspecies of the dark-eyed. Dark-Eyed ” differentiates these birds from Yellow-eyed juncos, its bill is darker gray contrasting. 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