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Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

General Description: Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) are small, sexually monomorphic, sparrows. Juncos come in several flavors, but the local flavor has a gray head, reddish back, pink bill, and black tail with white outer tail feathers. Often as they flutter away, they show white, V-shaped tail feathers. Juncos are social during winter and form mixed flocks with several subspecies feeding together. Several subspecies are recognized (14 or 15, depending on the reference) that are organized into 6 groups (Wikipedia).

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Emberizidae.

Favored Habitat: These little birds are winter visitors to the Las Vegas Valley and can be found in urban parks and yards. A few breed in our local mountains, but most breed farther north. Juncos primarily feed and nest on or close to the ground.

Where to Find: Urban parks and yards during winter, mountains during summer.

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) "Gray-headed" Junco (Junco hyemalis caniceps): Around Las Vegas, the local resident is the "Gray-headed" Junco of the southern Rocky Mountains. This form has a gray head and upper parts, light belly, and reddish back. Also notice the white outer tail feathers, which are typical of all juncos.
Oregon Junco (Junco hyemalis) "Oregon" Junco (Junco hyemalis oreganus): Around Las Vegas, the "Oregon" Junco is a winter visitor. The entire head and upper breast are very dark, sometimes black.
Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis) "Slate-colored" Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis): Around Las Vegas, the all gray "Slate-colored" Junco is seen occasionally during winter.
Pink Sided Junco (Junco hyemalis) "Pink-sided" Junco (Junco hyemalis mearnsi): Lighter colored "Pink-sided" Juncos are occasionally seen around Las Vegas during winter.
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Oregon" form of Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Oregon" form of Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Junco bathing in a mountain spring
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
"Gray-headed" Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Mummified carcass in the desert
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Mummified carcass in the desert
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Junco tail feathers, dorsal view
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Junco tail feathers, ventral view
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Junco feet; notice the long claws
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Juncos are social during winter (three birds: three subspecies)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Dark-eyed Junco with nesting material
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Dark-eyed Junco with nesting material
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) more to come

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240721

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