Subspecies Dark-eyed junco

1 subspecies

1.1 slate-colored juncos
1.2 white-winged junco
1.3 oregon juncos
1.4 pink-sided junco
1.5 gray-headed junco
1.6 red-backed junco
1.7 guadalupe junco

subspecies

the several subspecies make 2 large groups , 3 5 small or monotypic ones. 5 basic groups formerly considered separate species (and guadalupe junco still is), interbreed extensively in areas of contact. birders trying identify subspecies advised consult detailed identification references.

slate-colored juncos

male , female junco hyemalis



j. h. hyemalis
j. h. carolinensis
j. h. cismontanus (perhaps oregon x slate-colored cross) (also known cassiar )

this group has dark slate-gray head, breast , upperparts. females brownish gray, reddish-brown flanks. breed in north american taiga forests alaska newfoundland , south appalachian mountains, wintering through of united states. relatively common across range.

white-winged junco

j. h. aikeni

the white-winged junco has medium-gray head, breast, , upperparts white wing bars. females washed brownish. has more white in tail other forms. common endemic breeder in black hills area of south dakota, wyoming, nebraska, , montana, , winters south northeastern new mexico.

oregon juncos

oregon junco



j. h. montanus
j. h. oreganus
j. h. pinosus
j. h. pontilis
j. h. shufeldti
j. h. thurberi
j. h. townsendi

these have blackish-gray head , breast brown , wings , reddish flanks, tending toward duller , paler plumage in inland , southern parts of range. common form in west, found in pacific coast mountains southeastern alaska extreme northern baja california, wintering great plains , northern sonora. unresolved debate exists whether large , distinct group full species.

pink-sided junco


pink-sided junco

j. h. mearnsi

often considered part of oregon group, has lighter gray head , breast oregon group contrasting dark lores. , wings brown. has pinkish-cinnamon color richer , covers more of flanks , breast in oregon juncos. breeds in northern rocky mountains southern alberta eastern idaho , western wyoming; winters in central idaho , nearby montana , southwestern south dakota, southern wyoming, , northern utah northern sonora , chihuahua.

gray-headed junco


gray-headed junco

j. h. caniceps

this subspecies rather light gray on top rusty back. breeds in southern rocky mountains colorado central arizona , new mexico, , winters northern mexico.

red-backed junco

j. h. dorsalis

often included j. h. caniceps gray-headed juncos, differs gray-headed junco proper in having more silvery bill dark upper mandible, variable amount of rust on wings, , pale underparts. makes similar yellow-eyed junco (j. phaeonotus) except dark eye. found in southern mountains of arizona , new mexico. not overlap yellow-eyed junco in breeding range.

guadalupe junco

j. h. insularis

the extremely rare guadalupe junco considered part of species authors, namely iucn, restores subspecies status in 2008. other authors consider species in own right – perhaps rather young one, population has evolved more rapidly mainland juncos due small population size , founder effect.