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Dark-Eyed Junco, Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, Quebec, Canada, 2011. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Dark-Eyed Junco, 2011. Dave Menkes, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

dark-eyed junco

Junco hyemalis

Identification: 
This sparrow-sized bird has a gray to dark gray head, back, and front down to about the middle of the breast; it almost looks as if it’s been dipped in ink.  The bill is pinkish and a signature feature is white tail feathers that show when the bird flies up.

Behavior:
The Dark-Eyed Junco hops on the ground seeking seeds.  It eats more insects in summertime.  It is a ground-nesting species.    

What brings it to the SBG?
Food, cover, possibly nesting sites.  Seeds and protected spots are plentiful at the SBG. 

When can I see it?
Range maps suggest that the junco resides in this region year-round, but eBird lists and other observations record a pattern of wintertime residence and summertime absence.