Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) lives in coniferous and deciduous forests across Temperate North America and Arctic. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Dark-Eyed Junco
- Dark-eyed juncos can be as small as a child's hand, measuring just 5 to 6.5 inches (12.5 to 16.5 cm) long, yet they weigh a mere 0.63 to 1.06 oz (18 to 30 g). Their wingspan stretches 9.25 inches (23.5 cm) and they can hop up to 30 cm in a single bound.
- A breeding pair builds a cup-shaped nest only about 10 cm (3.9 in) across, lines it with fine grasses and hair, and lays 3 to 6 speckled eggs. The female incubates them for 12-13 days, and the chicks fledge after 9-13 days, staying dependent for roughly three weeks. This rapid, repeatable cycle, often two to three broods per season.
- On the UC San Diego campus, a resident junco population has stopped migrating altogether, staying year-round thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate. This non-migratory habit has allowed them to raise up to four broods per year, double the typical one or two, driving selection for traits like heavy-metal tolerance (ABCB6 allele) and higher-pitched calls (KCNQ4 variation) that improve urban survival.
- From sea level up to 3,500 m (11,483 ft), dark-eyed juncos occupy a mosaic of habitats, coniferous forests, open woodlands, suburban yards, and even old barns, yet they avoid deep forest interiors. Their preference for edges and clearings lets them thrive in human-altered landscapes, making them one of the most common feeder birds.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeTemperate North America and Arctic
HabitatConiferous and deciduous forests
DietSeeds and insects
About the Dark-Eyed Junco
In the frozen landscapes of North America, the Dark-Eyed Junco dances across the snow-encrusted terrain with an air of quiet resilience, its slate-grey feathers blending seamlessly into the winter backdrop as it forages for seeds and berries with meticulous precision. With each delicate hop, the junco's tiny feet barely disturb the pristine blanket of white, a testament to its adaptability in the harshest of seasons. As it flits between the skeletal branches of bare trees, its dark eyes shine like polished onyx, radiating a fierce determination to thrive in this unforgiving yet beautiful world.
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