Yard Critter of the Week - Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco.

Slate-colored variety. A sparrow that breeds in Canada and comes south to the US for winter.

This past Wednesday we had a late winter storm with wet heavy snow. Tree branches were snapping all around us. I recorded some and texted the recording to my family. Also in the recording, a video, were many Juncos at our feeders. One of my sisters asked why there were birds there, "don't they fly south for the winter"? For these birds this is south.

Female

A common winter visitor to Piney Place, in comparatively large flocks. We've had upwards of forty birds at times. All over the property. Not surprising given the total population is estimated at 630 million. That's a lot.

Male

These birds, along with a couple of other sparrows, White-thoated and Fox, signal winter's come when the arrive in our yard and spring is here when they are gone.

Alas, as of this writing they are still here. A lot of them.

🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.