Creature Feature Encyclopedia: Aves

Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

All five forms of the pert little Dark-Eyed Junco sing musical trills, and twitter rapidly in flight. The colorings of these different subspecies vary dramatically, yet all posses white bellies, white outer tail feathers, and, as their name suggests, profoundly dark eyes. The Dark-Eyed Junco breeds in Canada, as well as in the north and central portions of the United States. In the winter, it journeys as far south as Mexico. It feasts primarily on seeds, but may obtain additional protein by eating plump, tasty insects during nesting season.

~A Fly in the Sky © 1996