Dark-eyed Junco Gray-headed Race

Description:

The Dark-eyed Junco is a medium-sized sparrow with a rounded head, a short, stout bill and a fairly long, conspicuous tail. Juncos vary across the country (see Regional Differences), but in general they’re dark gray or brown birds brightened up by a pink bill and white outer tail feathers that periodically flash open, particularly in flight.

Habitat:

Pine forest at Angel Fire, NM.

Notes:

The Gray-headed race of the Dark-eyed Junco is one of the least known birds of the coniferous forests of the southern Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin Ranges (Terres, 1995). Also known as the Red-backed Junco, it is one of the some 15 races of juncos that occur in North America. A dweller of mountain tops from 7,000 feet to the tree line where they nest from March through August, these birds prefer coniferous forests of Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Blue Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Englemann Spruce and also Aspen, oak and Mountain Mahogany.