Ecology Dark-eyed junco

fledgling pink-sided junco (junco hyemalis mearnsi) @ 1 month after hatching, yellowstone national park.

their breeding habitat coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout north america. in otherwise optimal conditions utilize other habitat, @ southern margin of range can persist in favorite habitat. northern birds migrate further south, arriving in winter quarters between mid-september , november , leaving breed mid-march onwards, gone end of april or so. many populations permanent residents or altitudinal migrants, while in cold years birds may choose stay in winter range , breed there. in winter, juncos familiar in , around towns, , in many places common birds @ feeders. slate-colored junco rare vagrant western europe , may winter in great britain, in domestic gardens.

these birds forage on ground. in winter, forage in flocks may contain several subspecies. eat insects , seeds.

nest eggs

they nest in cup-shaped depression on ground, hidden vegetation or other material, although nests found in lower branches of shrub or tree. nests have outer diameter of 10 cm (3.9 in) , lined fine grasses , hair. 2 clutches of 4 eggs laid during breeding season. glossy eggs grayish or pale bluish-white , heavily spotted (sometimes splotched) various shades of brown, purple or gray. spotting concentrated @ large end of egg. eggs incubated female 12 13 days. young leave nest between 11 , 14 days after hatching.