Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  on fence

Although Juncos live here in central Ontario year-round, I rarely see them except in winter. Most of the year, these sweet, gentle birds forage in forests, but when wild food is harder to find, they hop around at the base of bird feeders cleaning up after fussier birds.

Junco on tree branch

Although I usually see Juncos on the ground, the top photo shows a Junco that flew up onto a fence to get treats.  The second photo shows a Junco on a limb where  it could survey the area to make sure it was safe to eat seeds it could see on the snow-covered ground below.
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

FYI City Daily Photo bloggers:  The  February 1st theme - If you had to leave forever the city from where you usually post, what would you miss most?

47 comments:

Andy said...

I am learning from you Camera Girl. I would have thought it was a sparrow. Starting today I am going to start pay more attention to what what is going to my bird feeder. They look like sparrows to me... maybe not.

Revrunner said...

I used to see Juncos frequently at my feeders, as you say, in the winters where I lived formerly.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

To me this looks like a very little little bird. Great shots of it.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Your little Junco is so sweet EG.. He looks a little like a 'gumnut' baby bird :)

Mersad said...

Really nicely captured in close-up.

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

eileeninmd said...

Cute shots of the Junco.. They seem to like eating at my feeders along with those eating off the ground.. Have a happy day!

Anvilcloud said...

They do tend to scrabble on the ground. Interesting behaviour.

Bethany Carson said...

Very nice shots! We have a few juncos at our place every year.

The Cranky said...

What a delicate and quietly beautiful bird, and you've captured it so perfectly!

Darla said...

Nice shots of a pretty little bird. I wonder if we have them in our yard. We have birds that look similar. I'll have to look closer.

Darla

Rose said...

They are such a pretty little bird. Like you, I seldom see them in warmer weather.

William Kendall said...

Terrific captures! I've always liked them- they seem to have such personality.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I thought I saw one of these the other day in my backyard- but it was a sparrow. I need a longer lens...LOL! Nice shots!

Birdman said...

Always have found that a funny name.

Mary Hone said...

We used to get tons of them at our house in Utah. So fun to watch.

Judy said...

Beautiful sharp images!

MadSnapper said...

i like the way the top feathers hang out over the white bottom feathers. looks like he was dressed by a professional... such a sweet cute bird

Small City Scenes said...

Our feeders are alive with Juncos and chickadees right now. It seems like zillions of them---a wee bit different but still Juncos.
MB

Love the rake in the previous post.

TexWisGirl said...

gorgeous shots! really great detail!

George said...

Both of these are fantastic portraits.

Sylvia K said...

Awesome captures and such a beautiful little bird, EG!! You always get such incredible detail! Portraits they are indeed!!

Marvin said...

Wonderful junco photos. We always know that when juncos arrive under our bird feeders, winter cannot be far behind.

Beyond the Dog Dish said...

I like his parka over the pants. Or so it appear with his fluffy top and smooth feathers on bottom.

Kathy said...

The juncos here also come in winter. Interesting since our winters are more like your summers!

Pamela Gordon said...

Wonderful photos of the juncos. They are sweet little birds.

Ginny Hartzler said...

These are wonderful portraits! The depth and the light are perfect! We have the Juncos, we call them snow birds. They only appear in the deep winter when it is time for snow. It is so curious to me that they do the opposite of most birds. Most birds migrate and fly away from the cold. But the juncos fly toward it. A mystery.

Unknown said...

I love the first photo. It shows all the details on his back perfectly.

RedPat said...

I always know that it is winter when they appear or when I first hear them in the fall!

Judy said...

In that second image, he looks like he is wearing a hood!

Malyss said...

What beautiful pictures !

Gemma Wiseman said...

Beautiful soft and subtle variation of colours in this sweet little character.

Linda W. said...

Great bird pics! I love your second photo. The little guy looks so alert.

DeniseinVA said...

Great close ups, they are such a cute little bird.

Ruth Hiebert said...

The juncos are so cute. I see them come through here in fall and again in early spring.

Giga said...

An interesting and beautiful bird. Regards.

Sue (this n that) said...

That's another bird I didn't know about. A cute couple of photos.
The small birds are always so sweet and clever too :D)

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Such crystal clear photos...gorgeous!...:)JP

Lois said...

Very cute birds! They seem to be posing for you.

GreenComotion said...

So adorable!
Lovely snaps, Tina!!
Peace :)

Randy said...

What a cutie.

Jack said...

You take such clear photos of birds. I am -- once again -- impressed.

Gail Dixon said...

Such crisp shots!! You are so lucky he posed on a limb for you. Ha, you could say he actually went out on a limb for you. Hope we see these cute birds soon; they should be migrating soon.

Stephanie said...

Beautifully captured.

Cloudia said...

What a dear! You are such a competent photog


ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shots, pretty bird!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

We see these in Oregon (even in the summer) and my first thought was that I've never seen them anywhere but on the ground, eating up the spillage. They are really a pretty bird though and your pictures are fabulous..

Jenn Jilks said...

Lovely birds, aren't they? Pretty flighty, pun intended!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.