
Photo by Jackanapes
Just try getting close to a dark-eyed junco. They flutter off quicker than most to the safety of a shrub or thicket. Although they aren’t as flashy as other winter birds – the flashy cardinals, bold chickadees or loud woodpeckers – juncos are every bit as fascinating.
Winter around here feels cold to us, but to juncos this is a “warm” holiday! These well-insulated birds live as far north as the arctic. Many of the juncos around here might be migrants from as far north as Hudson’s Bay. This is warm to them!
Juncos are one of the most common birds to visit feeders, however, they seldom perch. As ground feeders they prefer to collect seed and millet that the other birds spill.
Some cool things to watch for with Juncos:
- Slate-coloured top and white underside
- White tail feathers that flash as they fly
- Pinkish beak
- Hopping on the ground rather than walking
- Listen for a twittering or trilling call
- Flocking in the winter
Sarah Halonen, our Camp Programs Coordinator, chose the Juncos as her favourite winter birds. Sarah says, “I love them because it means winter is here!” Indeed it is.
For more information on Juncos see Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Hopefully we will see some of these birds among many more at our Winter Birds Family Nature Walk on February 4.