Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Although there are many different subspecies with considerable variety in coloring, the one I spot near Montreal comes very close to the original description as a grey bird with white belly. A sparrow appearing in small flocks picking up food from the ground.
Advertisement
We need your help! By making a contribution towards our hosting costs, you can help us provide an ad-free experience on our website in the near future. Paypal
Taxonomy
Aves > Passeriformes > Passerellidae
Names in different Languages
| German | Winterammer |
| English | Dark-eyed Junco |
| French | Junco ardoisé |
| Spanish | Junco ojioscuro |
How to Identify
Males have a dark grey head, grey body and white belly. The greyish color, the fact that the species appears usually in a flock and that it has the preference to feed on the ground, below the feeding station, provides me a strong hint. Further, being lucky to watch the bird close, the dark, almost black eyes confirms the identification.
Where When to Spot
I watched them on several occasions in Park Mont Royal during late autumn before and after first snowfall. The observation done in Summer was in Newfoundland near the airport.
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Heights Park | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Boisé Des Douze | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Parc Angrignon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Parc Mont-Royal | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Parc de la Frayère | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Number of times a species has been observed, identified, and recorded. A species is reported only once per visit to a park.
Photos of Dark-eyed Junco
