Nature Walk: Dark-eyed Junco

Every yard has likely hosted a flock of dark-eyed juncos during the winter. They are members of the sparrow family with a white breast, white outer tail feathers, a slate gray or brown plumage above and a light pink bill. Flocks of tree sparrows or other overwintering birds commonly accompany them. In extremely cold weather they may land directly behind you as you scatter mixed birdseed or cracked corn on the ground. By mid-May most will have headed north where they nest across the Canadian providences all the way north to the Arctic.