Home, near and far.
This species breeds across Canada, Alaska, the western United States, and the Appalachian Mountains. In winter, its range extends south throughout much of the United States to northern Mexico and Florida.
Birds Heard
FIELD GUIDE
FIELD GUIDE
New World Sparrows
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
The Dark-eyed Junco is a widespread and abundant New World sparrow, recognized by its variable plumage and flashing white outer tail feathers. Often called "snowbirds," these small birds are a familiar sight across much of North America, particularly during winter months. They are known for their ground-foraging habits and distinctive calls.
migratory, residentsmalltrilling songomnivorous
- Length
- 14-16 cm
- Wingspan
- 18-25 cm
- Weight
- 17-31 g
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
You’ll know it
when you see it.
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
- 01
Overall Plumage
Highly variable, but generally dark gray or brown on the upperparts and breast, with a contrasting white belly. Females are often slightly browner than males.
- 02
Bill
Possesses a small, sturdy, conical bill that is typically pale pink.
- 03
Tail
Outer tail feathers are bright white, prominently displayed during flight.
- 04
Regional Forms
Eastern birds (Slate-colored Junco) are mostly gray and white. Western forms (e.g., Oregon Junco) can have black or slaty hoods, chestnut backs, and rusty sides.
02 / A place in the world
Where life
takes it.
Dark-eyed Juncos breed in coniferous or mixed-coniferous forests, as well as deciduous forests with good understory and leaf litter, from sea level to over 11,000 feet. In winter, they expand into open woodlands, fields, parks, roadsides, and suburban yards.
Stay a while. Or follow the season.
Most populations are migratory, moving south for the winter and returning north to breed in spring. However, some populations in southwestern mountains and along the southern Pacific Coast may be permanent residents, and others in the Appalachians move to higher elevations during warmer months.
03 / Listen a little closer
A voice
of its own.
The song is a musical, even trill on a single pitch, lasting up to two seconds. Calls include short, rapid chip notes, which can intensify when foraging or in flight.
04 / The life behind the feathers
A day in its world.
On the menu.
Their diet consists primarily of seeds, especially those from weeds and grasses, making up about 75% year-round. During the breeding season, they supplement their diet with insects such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders.
Dark-eyed Juncos are primarily ground feeders, hopping rather than walking, as they search for seeds and insects. They often peck or scratch at leaf litter to uncover food. They may also visit bird feeders, preferring to forage on the ground beneath them.
A place to begin.
Nests are typically open cups constructed mostly by the female from grass, weeds, and leaves, lined with finer materials. They are almost always situated on the ground, well-hidden under logs, rocks, roots, or in shallow dirt banks, though occasionally in low shrubs.
The little routines.
During winter, juncos often form flocks of 10-25 birds, sometimes mingling with other sparrow species. These flocks exhibit a pecking order, with dominant males often ranking higher. Males sing to defend breeding territories and court females with tail displays and soft songs.
One more reason to pay attention
A familiar face.
A few surprises.
The Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common birds in North America.
A flock of juncos is sometimes referred to as a "blizzard."
The oldest recorded Dark-eyed Junco lived to be at least 11 years and 4 months old.
05 / An eye for the difference
Could it be
someone else?
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerinaChipping Sparrows have a rusty cap and a distinct eye-line, lacking the junco's solid head coloration and white outer tail feathers.
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliacaFox Sparrows are larger, rustier, and heavily streaked on the underparts, unlike the generally unstreaked junco.
Yellow-eyed Junco
Junco phaeonotusThe Yellow-eyed Junco is distinguished by its bright yellow eyes and a different geographic range, primarily in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
Behind these field notesResearch & references · 11 sources
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.