Ina Nektar Fly Fishing

Northern Deer

It comes in several distinctly different looking forms, but all are readily identified as "Juncos" by their plain patterning, dark hood, and white outer tail feathers. Juncos are the "snowbirds" of the middle latitudes. In the eastern United States, they appear in all but the most northern states only in the winter, and then retreat each spring. Some juncos in the Appalachian Mountains remain there all year round, breeding at the higher elevations. These residents have shorter wings than the migrants that join them each winter.

Longer wings help the migrants fly long distances. The Dark-eyed-Junco includes five forms that were once considered separate species. The Slate-colored Junco is the grayest, found from Alaska to Texas and eastward. Yes, even in my Michigan. The Oregon Junco is boldly marked blackish and brown, with a distinct dark hood, and is found in the western half of the continent. The Gray-headed Junco has a brown back and gray sides and lives in the central Rocky Mountains. The White-winged Junco is all gray with white wingbars, and breeds only near the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Guadalupe Junco of Baja California is dull and brownish. Two other forms may be distinguishable: The Pink-sided Junco, a pale version of the Oregon junco, living in the northern Rocky Mountains. The Red-backed Junco, a gray-headed junco with a dark upper bill, found in mountains near the Mexican border. Male and females are similar in markings, the only difference is the female is a bit lighter in color. Breeding grounds are Alaska, Most of Canada, the extreme northern state,down the mountains to California and Northern Georgia. Juncos winter from southern Canada to Northern Mexico.

Now that is a huge range. Juncos spend the entire winter in flocks averaging in size from six to thirty or more birds. Each flock has a dominance hierarchy with mature males at the top, then juvenile males, mature females and young females at the bottom. You can often observe individuals challenging the status of others with aggressive displays of lunges and tail flicking. I've mentioned before how birds often have a hierarchy, now is your chance to observe and find the boss of your backyard. Males remain further North so they can take advantage of prime breeding grounds. Juvenile males remain further North. Males will return to the same breeding ground year after year. With nests are on the ground, rodents such as Chipmunks and Deer mice are major predators on the eggs of Juncos. The longevity records for Juncos are: White-winged - 7.5 years; Dark-eyed -10 years, 9 months; Oregon - 9 years, 9 months; Gray-headed 10 years, 8 months. About 70% of the Juncos in the South are females as they know how to take advantage of favorable conditions.

Feeding Habits:

Like most sparrows, Juncos are ground feeders. You will often see them hopping back and forth or scratching for food. Backyard feeding favorites are millets and cracked corn. On an annual basis, a Junco's diet is made up of approximately three parts seeds to one part insects. During the nesting period, the percent of insects can increase up to 50 or 60 percent of their diet. Sometimes you will see them riding a seed stalk to the ground and then feeding. Kinda makes you want to keep a few weeds around.

A Few Tidbits:

Juncos have over 30 percent more feathers (by weight) in the winter than they do in summer. Juncos prefer to roost in evergreens at night, but will also use tall grasses and brush piles. They return to the same roost location repeatedly and will share it with other flock mates, but they do not huddle together. Nests are built on the ground using rootlets, dried leaves, moss and lined with fine grass. Because nests are on the ground, chipmunks, kangaroo mice and other rodents are main predators of eggs and new hatchlings. An average clutch is 3 to 5 eggs and she may have as many as 2 clutches a season. Eggs incubate in 11 to 13 days and young fledge on average, 12 to 14 days. There are an estimated 280 million of these birds.

Ron Patterson is a Wildlife Habitat Naturalist, Master Naturalist, Michigan Certified Nurseryman and Baackyard birding expert.

With more than 40 years experience, Ron can help you 'Garden for Wildlife' and enjoy wild birds more.

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