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Dark eyed juncos are one of the most easily identified birds in North America. Their round heads, dark-gray back feathers and white outer tail feathers are a distinctive combination that sets them apart from other sparrows. They also have a short, sharp beak and black eyes. https://nestvui.com/yen-vien-baby/ -eyed juncos are omnivorous, and they will eat insects in addition to seeds. They typically prefer seed over berries and other fruits. They are also good at finding hidden food sources, such as beetle larvae and caterpillars.This migratory bird is found throughout the United States. They typically spend the summer in Canada and in the northern US, but they migrate south for the winter to southern parts of the USA and into Mexico. During the winter, they can be seen in a wide variety of habitats including forests, fields, open woodlands, gardens, parks, suburbs and farmyards.During the breeding season, dark eyed juncos nest in open areas, such as on ground level or amid tangled roots. They build a nest that is framed with sticks, grass, leaves, moss and animal hair. A typical nest takes 3-7 days to construct, and it measures 3-5.5 inches across. The female builds the nest while her partner brings the necessary material. Once the nest is completed, it is defended from predators and guarded by both parents.Once the eggs hatch, the young are fed by both parents and will remain with their family until they fledge at 11-13 days. During this time, the parents will feed their chicks regurgitated food and soft invertebrates. After the chicks fledge, the parents will continue to feed them until they are fully grown and able to care for themselves.While dark-eyed juncos are typically territorial, they do roost together during the winter. Flocks often consist of 15-25 birds and are usually joined by flocks of American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea). Juncos have a variety of vocalizations that they use to communicate. They will make warbling calls while they are hunting, a chipping sound when they are foraging and an excited call when alarmed.If you would like to attract dark-eyed juncos to your backyard, consider adding a tray feeder or lowering the height of a regular feeder. This will prevent the discarded seed from gathering moisture that can spoil it. If you have a regular seed feeder, consider swapping out sunflower seeds for millet. This will be more appealing to dark-eyed juncos, which primarily eat the seeds of weeds and grasses.
