Our Bird of the Month for November is the Dark-eyed Junco! Normally further North during their breeding season, they make the trip down further South during the winter. These small birds fluff up in the cold, hopping about the ground and scratching around for any seeds they can find.

The Eastern side of North America tends to see the darker, slate-colored variety of Juncos, while the Western side has several other, more colorful varieties. Even to the East, different subspecies can mix in their winter flocks while they forage for food.

What do they eat?

When it comes to the Dark-eyed Junco, millet is key. While they’ll still eat sunflower chips and cracked corn, millet seems to be their priority. Juncos are primarily ground-feeding birds, and since many other birds will scatter millet to reach other seed stored in feeders, Juncos often have a feast waiting for them when they arrive!

If you want to give them a nice treat this fall and winter, try some of our Junco Blend, combining white millet, sunflower chips, and cracked corn!

Staff Thoughts

Ginger: “I get excited each year in anticipation of the Juncos returning to my yard. I think they look really cool and it’s fun to watch them hopping around the ground (and snow!) eating the seed that falls from my feeders.”

Nick: “It can’t be Fall without the arrival of the Juncos! As the plants start to wilt, and Juncos and Sparrows forage, it’s cute to watch them cling onto the sides of plants to get a better look at their surroundings!”

Angela: “Each year I’m just as happy to see them return to my yard! This year they arrived the last week of September and were enjoying my bird baths, but especially the mister I still had going through mid-October. I still currently have at least 30 each morning coming to my feeding area. I love seeing the white in their back when they fly away.”