Dark-eyed Juncos: A Harbinger of Winter or Sign of Spring. 

Written By: Scott W. Holland

Change the latitude, change the attitude.  It’s an old saying in sports for when a player doesn’t mesh well with the team.  In layman’s terms, it means to trade them. However, what if a change in latitude could bring about a change in attitude, and perspective, with respect to birding, or perhaps more specifically, the way in which we welcome the return of some of our feathered friends back to our area.   

For many people living in southern Ontario and the lower 48 states, the Dark-eyed Junco is a harbinger of winter.  As a migratory bird, it arrives in late autumn and remains until mid-spring before setting off again for their summer breeding grounds.  In fact, Dark-eyed Juncos have been nicknamed “snowbirds” for their consistency in arriving just ahead of winter’s grip. These little birds often provide a welcome flash of color during winter as they fly against a snow drenched backdrop.  But have you ever thought what those living in Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Saskatoon or Edmonton think of when they see the Dark-eyed Juncos return?  I can assure you the joy is real since in these regions the Juncos most certainly are seen as a sign of spring. More reliable than Wiarton Willie, I dare say.

The Ornithological genuses of the Junco is that it is a New World Sparrow with two distinct species. The Dark-eyed, and the Yellow-eyed. The Yellow-eyed Junco is found primarily in southwestern United States, Mexico and Guatemala. The Dark-eyed Junco is found across both Canada and the United States, with the Slate-coloured Junco as perhaps the most familiar of the group, since it is the most populous with an estimated 630 million. There are however five other groups of Dark-eyed Junco, each specific to a region of North America. These include, the Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged, Gray-headed and Red-backed Juncos.

While Juncos are small, they are a hardy lot. Even with the harsh bite of winter, the Dark-eyed Junco prefers to make its nest on the ground, often in small depressions or at the base of plants or trees.  For me, living in southern Ontario, the Junco is definitely a harbinger of winter. I do, however, enjoy these little birds, and if you’ll permit me, I’d like to end our time with a little rhyme. 

The Dark-eyed Junco prefers to feed on the ground, enjoying the seeds we scatter around.  Filling their bellies with what they can find and tucking away when weather is less than sublime. They hop and skirt over the snow, looking for shelter when the cold winds blow. They can often be found during woodland walks and like to gather in sizable flocks. You can always tell when a Junco takes flight, as their tail feathers are aflicker with white. They bounce and weave over the snow-covered leaves through winters filtered light. I can’t imagine a winter without this little bird, even if I think the weather absurd.