Attracting Dark-eyed Juncos to Your Backyard

Dark-eyed Juncos are often called “Snowbirds”, possibly due to the fact that many people believe their return from their northern breeding grounds foretells the return of cold and snowy weather. Another possible source of the nickname may be the white belly plumage and slate-colored back of the junco which has been described as “leaden skies above, snow below”.

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. There are an additional 12 subspecies divided among these populations. Here in Simcoe County you can expect to spot the Slate-colored variety.

Juncos practice an interesting foraging method called “riding.” They fly up to a seed cluster on the top of a grass stem and “ride” it to the ground where they pick off the seeds.

What do Dark-eyed Juncos Look Like?

Dark-eyed Juncos are flashy, sparrow sized birds with distinct grey and white markings. While highly variable in colouring between light grey to almost black, all sport an all upper grey throughout the head, back, wings and tail, with a bright white belly and tail feathers which flash in flight. Male and female plumage are similar, the female are generally paler. No seasonal plumage changes. Juvenile plumage similar to adult females.

Do they migrate?

The Dark-eyed Junco is predominately migratory. Juncos spend the entire winter in flocks averaging in size from six to thirty or more birds. Dark-eyed Juncos tend to return to the same area each winter. Chances are that you have many of the same birds at your feeder this winter that you had in previous years. Visiting flocks of juncos will usually stay within an area of about ten acres during their entire winter stay.  When migrating, female juncos move south before the males do, and adult females leave before the young females. Male juncos tend to spend the winter farther north in order to shorten their spring migration and thus gain the advantage of arriving first at prime breeding territories.

Foods

You can attract juncos to your yard by feeding a seed blend containing millet and hulled sunflower seeds, such as our WBU No-Mess LM Blend or WBU Deluxe Seed Blend. 

Feeders

While naturally ground feeders, Juncos will happily feed from our feeders, favouring open feeders such as Tray Feeders, Fly-Thru Feeders, and feeders with a wide base for easy landing, such as a Seed Tube Feeder with a Seed Tray attached. 

 

Birdbaths (Water)

Water is essential to all birds and providing a bird bath means they don’t have to travel great distances to find water. Water in a bird bath should be cleaned regularly as birds defecate, leave bits of food and feathers in the bath, not to mention leaves and other items that can end up in a bath. In the winter, heated birdbaths provide an excellent place for birds to drink. During the warmer months the WBU Water Wigglers and Solar Fountains create moving water in your birdbath, making the bath even more attractive to birds. WBU Barrie carries a variety of plastic, metal and clay birdbaths and accessories, as well as heated birdbaths for the colder months. Visit our page on birdbaths for a selection of styles as well as accessories like brushes, solar fountains, water wigglers and Fountain Fresh Water Clarifier.

 

Nesting

As winter and late-fall residents to our area, Dark-eyed Juncos are not here in Simcoe County during their breeding season and therefore will not be enticed by nesting options in our yards. During nesting season they typically nest in coniferous or mixed-coniferous forests on the ground or in bushes. Will not use a nest box even within their breeding range.  Juncos typically have two broods per year with the female building her nest and laying three to five eggs. The male does not incubate the eggs but does deliver food to the young and helps the female to defend against predators. The young leave the nest in 9-12 days.

Fun Facts

• Juncos have over 30% more feathers (by weight) in the winter than they do in summer.

• The Dark-eyed Junco has been documented to produce hybrids with White-throated Sparrows.

• You may not like these weeds in your yard, but the seeds of chickweed, ragweed, knotweed, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and crabgrass are some of the main natural seed sources used by juncos.

• For more information visit this great resource: Lab of Ornithology at Cornell - All About Birds - Dark-eyed Junco