Dark-eyed Junco

Varies by subspecies group. The 'Slate-colored' form shown features a dark gray hood, back, and upper breast contrasting sharply with a white belly. Females tend to be slightly paler with brownish tinges. Juveniles are streaked.

Dark gray hood, starkly contrasting white belly, pinkish bill, and conspicuous white outer tail feathers.

Length: 13-17 cm (5.1-6.7 in), Wingspan: 18-25 cm (7.1-9.8 in), Weight: 18-30 g (0.6-1.1 oz)

A high-pitched, musical trill or chatter that sounds similar to a canary or chipping sparrow; calls include sharp metallic ticks.

Primarily seeds of grasses, weeds, and fallen grain during fall and winter; heavily shifts to insects and spiders during the summer breeding season.

Coniferous and mixed forests during breeding season; open woodlands, brushy areas, fields, parks, and suburban gardens in winter.

Partial migrant. Northern and high-elevation populations migrate south or to lower elevations for the winter.

Builds a cup nest on the ground hidden under logs, rocks, or tufts of grass. Lays 3 to 6 pale bluish-white eggs speckled with brown. Incubated by the female for about 12-13 days.

Townsend's Solitaire (lacks pink bill and white outer tail feathers) and various other sparrows, but the dark hood and white belly combination is unique.

Acts as an important seed disperser and helps control insect populations during the breeding season.

Least Concern, with a stable and very large population trend.

Often found hopping on the ground underneath backyard bird feeders. Look for their characteristic two-footed scratch in the leaf litter.

Dark-eyed Juncos are sometimes called 'snowbirds' because they frequently appear in populated areas just as winter snows begin to fall.