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.
Specs
| Length | 15-18cm |
| Weight | 18-25g |
| Wingspan | 22-25cm |
Common Names
| German | Winterammer |
| English | Dark-eyed Junco |
| French | Junco ardoisé |
| Spanish | Junco ojioscuro |
Taxonomy
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passerellidae |
| Species | Junco hyemalis |
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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 and 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boisé Des Douze | x | - | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | x | - | - | x |
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | - | x |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | - | - | - | x |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | x | - | - | - |
Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.