Yellow-eyed Junco
Also known as: Northern Junco
16 cm (5-7") Variable species with four distinct races found across North America.
Slate-colored Race: Common in brushy clearings and borders of northern and eastern coniferous forests; in fall and winter roadsides, undergrowth, feeders.
Uniformly dark hood, back, and wings. White outer tail feathers flash out when it flies away. Similar White-winged race breeds in the Black Hills of South Dakota and has white stripes on its wings.
White-winged Race: uncommon and local; breeds in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Brushy clearings and borders of coniferous forests. In fall and winter; roadsides, undergrowth, and feeders.
Gray hood and back. White belly. Similar to more common Slate-colored race but has white wing bars and more white on outer edge of tail which flashes out when the bird flies away.
Oregon Race: Common in west and northwest in brushy clearings and borders of coniferous forests. In fall and winter; roadsides, undergrowth, and feeders.
Dark hood. Light bill. Rusty back. Buffy or rusty sides. White belly. White outer tail feathers flash out when it flies away.
Gray-headed Race: Common in southern United States. Rockies, Great Basin. Brushy clearings and borders of coniferous forests. In fall and winter; roadsides, undergrowth, and feeders.
Gray head and rump. Bill may be bicolored with a dark upper bill. Rusty back. Pale gray sides, throat and breast. White belly. White outer tail flashes out when the bird flies away.
Song: loose trill suggests Chipping Sparrow, rapid twittering in flight.
