Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis

Dark-eyed Junco has a partial preformative molt, and limited prealternate molts that are largely restricted to feathers on the head. Although the preformative molt often results in distinct molt limits, these can sometimes be subtle, so caution is advised for those that appear to be DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY).  Plumage can often be used to determine sex, but beware that there is a gradient of colouration, and that FCF/FCU (HY/SY) males and DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) females can appear quite similar.

There are several subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco in North America; the descriptions provided are based largely on Slate-colored Junco, but are believed to be broadly applicable to the other subspecies as well.

Quick tips

• Examine the greater coverts - FCF/FCU (HY/SY) birds often have a conspicuous molt limit among the greater coverts with retained brown outer coverts contrasting with replaced gray inner coverts, while DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) birds have uniform greater coverts.
• Look at the back and head - DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) males are dark gray with little or no brown, FCF/FCU (HY/SY) males and DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) females are medium gray with brown especially on the back, and FCF/FCU (HY/SY) females are brownish-gray and paler than other ages/sexes.
• Check the tail - on FCF/FCU (HY/SY) birds the outer rectrices are narrow and tapered, while on DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) birds they are broad and rounded; note that the amount of white does not appear to reliably correspond to age or sex.
• In fall and winter, look at the iris under good light - it is grayish-brown on FCF/FCU (HY/SY) birds, and reddish-brown on DCB/DCU (AHY/ASY) birds.

Species account prepared by McGill Bird Observatory (2016). Last updated by Marcel Gahbauer (Mar 2022)