Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

The arrival of juncos, yellow-rumped warblers and white-crowned sparrows on our property is a harbinger of the fall-winter season. Juncos are categorized by race or form, based on their coloration and range. Our juncos here in SoCal are predominantly of the western "Oregon" race, with the males having a black hood and females a gray hood. 

 4/8/07 Doane Pond, Palomar Mountain State Park, N. San Diego County, CA

 7/6/02 10,040 ft. elevation, Horseshoe Meadow, Lone Pine region, Eastern Sierras, 
Inyo National Forest, Inyo County, CA

11/8/07 On one our our veggie planter boxes in the upper orchard. La Cresta, 
Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA 

2/10/18 Bathing in the fountain in our herb garden. La Cresta,
Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

2/10/18 Fluffing out its feathers after bathing in the fountain in our herb garden. 
La Cresta, Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

5/6/07 Silvercrest Picnic Area, Palomar Mountain State Park, N. San Diego County, CA

5/19/17 William Heise County Park, Laguna Mountains, 4,000'
San Diego County, CA

3/6/11 Trans Preserve Trail, Santa Rosa Plateau 
Ecological Reserve,Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Dark-Eyed Junco

SPECIES: Junco hyemalis

LIFE LIST DATE: 4/8/2000

LOCATION: Adobes at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region

IDENTIFYING MARKS & BEHAVIOR: 6"; Pale bill; dark eye, whitish belly; tail dark with conspicuous white outer feathers. "Oregon" race has black (male) or gray (female) hood and brown back. 

VOICE: Song is a short trill or series of trills on 1 or more pitches; calls include tsip, zeet, and kew kew.