Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco


The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a species of the juncos, a genus of small grayish American sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic.

Adults generally have gray heads, necks, and breasts, gray or brown backs and wings, and a white belly, but show a confusing amount of variation in plumage details. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight and while hopping on the ground. The bill is usually pale pinkish.

Males tend to have darker, more conspicuous markings than the females.

Junco is the Spanish for rush, from Latin juncus. Its modern scientific name means “winter junco”, from Latin hyemalis “of the winter”.


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