Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a member of the Passerellidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 19.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passerellidae New World Sparrows
- Genus Junco
- Species hyemalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 19.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
In the common Slate-colored form, males are dark slate-gray on the head, breast and upperparts with a white belly; females are paler and browner-gray, sometimes with reddish-brown flanks (both show flashing white outer tail feathers and a pale pink bill).
Juvenile appearance
Streaked, especially on the underparts, before molting into the plain adult plumage.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dark-eyed Junco is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Dark-eyed Junco is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a species of bird in the Passerellidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA n, w.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 19.5 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 10.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dark-eyed Junco?
The Dark-eyed Junco is a small bird that weighs around 19.5 g.
Where does the Dark-eyed Junco live?
The Dark-eyed Junco is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA n, w, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dark-eyed Junco belong to?
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) belongs to the Passerellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dark-eyed Junco eat?
The Dark-eyed Junco is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Dark-eyed Junco migrate?
The Dark-eyed Junco is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Dark-eyed Junco endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Dark-eyed Junco make?
1 real field recording of the Dark-eyed Junco — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dark-eyed Junco's range?
The Dark-eyed Junco has a mapped global range of about 10.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
How to Attract Dark-eyed Junco to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract Dark-eyed Junco to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (white proso millet), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.