Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Regen or Sap))
      or (Jack Pine (Regen or Sap))
      or (Any Upland Mixed (Regen or Sap))
      or Upland Brush
      or Savanna

2nd alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Jack Pine (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Upland Mixed (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Stand/Gap Openings

Habitat List:

view size class definitions

Literature:

Habitat: Most commonly associated with boreal or coniferous forests during the breeding season, the junco is not a bird of the deep forest but of openings, clearings, or edges. The leading categories in the Atlas Habitat Survey were mesic and dry mixed forest and dry conifer forest. The Dark-eyed Junco nests on the ground, with nests often associated with edges or openings in the forest and most nests covered with a canopy of grass or brush. Allan (1978) found the entrance to junco nests in the Upper Peninsula usually oriented to the south or east, perhaps an aid in warming the nest. The nest bowl is often lined with fine grasses, mosses, or mammal hairs for the usual clutch of four eggs.

The junco can be found breeding in the Upper Peninsula wherever conifer or mixed forests occur. Primary nesting areas appear to be in regions of extensive conifer forests. Allan (1978) found 38 junco nests in the jack pine forests of Baraga Co. It is also a common breeding resident of the jack-pine forests of the north-central Lower Peninsula where Kirtland's Warbler are found. BBS data support the Atlas data, with most routes with observations in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula.

Habitat: Breeding: Coniferous and mixed forests, forest edges, borders of streams, woodland clearings, sides of logging roads. Wintering: Areas with conifers for night roosting. Fretwell (1968) found that juncos preferred open weedy fields and used mature deciduous and coniferous woods infrequently. Hedgerows and brushy field borders.

Habitat: Conifer and mixed woods. In winter, open woods, undergrowth, roadsides, brush. Over its wide range, breeding habitat is consistently coniferous or mixed woodland, usually in rather open situations such as edges or clearings. Winters in many kinds of semi-open habitats including woodland edges, thickets, brushy places, suburban areas.

Diet: Mostly seeds and insects. Close to half of summer diet of adults consists of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and true bugs, also spiders. Feeds heavily on seeds of weeds and grasses, especially in winter. Also eats some berries. Young are fed mostly insects.

Nest: Site is almost always on ground, well hidden under overhanging grass, log, rock, or exposed roots, or in shallow hole in dirt bank. Sometimes in shrub, tree, or ledge of building, rarely more than 10 feet above ground. Nest is an open cup of grass, weeds, leaves, lined with fine grass and sometimes with hair or feathers.