Fun Fact Friday: Here in South Jersey, Dark-eyed Juncos are true snowbirds, heralding winter’s approach. These engaging little sparrows appear just as the cold weather sets in, returning north again to breeding grounds in the northeastern US and Canada on the winds of spring.
During the winter, Juncos appear nearly everywhere, from open woodlands to backyard gardens, noisily and rather happily foraging on the ground for a variety of seeds. They also occasionally eat berries, and during the breeding season they’ll feast on insects and spiders (which they also feed to their young) – but seeds make up the bulk of their year-round diet.
These diminutive, dapper birds occur across the entire continent – coast to coast and north to south. In the east, males Juncos are smartly dressed in gray and white, with the females displaying brown and tan earth tones as well. The species is highly variable throughout its range, though. Depending on their location, you’ll find them adding shades of pink, brown, and rufous to their ensemble. Regardless of variation, there are three main features common to all: their namesake dark eyes, a pink bill, and bold, white outer tail feathers that they display often – in flight, dashing for cover, or trying to impress a potential mate.
Fun Fact: When we say everywhere, we mean everywhere: the Dark-eyed Junco is one of North America’s most common birds, with an estimated population of 630 million!
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