Juncos Enjoy Winter Climate
October 14, 2001

In the last two weeks some of our winter wildlife has returned to the area. Did you notice?

Juncos are the familiar slate-gray, sparrow sized birds with white outer tail feathers. They are friendly and numerous visitors at winter feeding stations. They appear in late autumn and disappear in spring. What happens to them in between?

If one would plan to research their life history a problem of names would be a stumbling block! As early as 1917 an author writing for "Birds of America" bemoaned the fact that the term "Common Snowbird" had been changed to "Junco", a term covering the varied species of this member of the sparrow family. Whence the name "junco"?

An early ornithologist derived the word "juncus" meaning seedperhaps because its diet consists of many weed seeds. From "snowbird" to "junco" was one official change from there on it becomes more confusing! It is variously called, in ornithological literature, "Eastern Junco", "Northern Slate-colored Junco", and in the latest bird check lists "Dark-eyed Junco"!

Slate-colored the bird is. Its dark back and the hood-like coloring of the head and the whiteness of its breast resulted in a poetic description "leaden skies above, snow below". It would seem the average observer would recognize the slate coloring rather than its present appelation of "dark eyed" one might end up by calling it the "Whatchamacallit Bird"! That wouldn't help to find it in an index. Perhaps the scientific name, Junco hyemalis hyemalis would lead one to the proper information, until that gets changed. Science has its odd quirks.

The now so-called "Dark-eyed junco" nests in the northern tier of the lower 48 states, Alaska, and Canada. Generally, with few exceptions, they nest on the ground, typically under the mossy side of a know or steep band. It is an inhabitant of northern woodlands and forest edges. The birds remain in their breeding grounds until late in the fall, when the food supply becomes scarce. Insects make up a considerable percentage of the food during the summer. Weed seeds are a staple part of their diet. Although they can forage for these seeds in their winter habitats, they quickly find, and prefer the handouts found at feeders. Their cheerful, friendly ways make them welcome additions to winter bird watching.

Do you call the juncos "it", "he", "she", or perhaps "they"? A recent publication, discussing the winter ranges of the juncos, states the males tend to winter farther north than the females. Several reasons are projected: males, being larger than females, are better able to cope with the cold as their larger body size would give them an advantage of being able to go without food longer during severe conditions. Because the birds are quite pugnacious, males might chase the smaller birds from the feeding area and females just take off for less challenging situations. Because males compete for breeding areas, the males that remain farthest north have a head start when returning to nesting sites.

Conclusion? Perhaps most of the birds at your feeders are "he". Note if there are variations in size and if an of the birds are lighter colored (females).

Here's a challenge: pick a bird and read the relative literature. You will find it interesting, and yes, a lot of contradictions.