Hooked on Dark-eyed Juncos

Photos by BarrytheBirder

MALE

FEMALE
Dark-eyed (Slate-coloured) Junco
(Junco hyemalis)

Although the Black-capped Chickadee is one of my favourite year-around birds, especially in the winter, it's the Dark-eyed Juncos that capture my heart each winter in the snowy backyard.   It seems the same individuals keep showing up, followed by generations of their offsprings, year after year, decade after decade.   I'm sure if I had the patience, I could get them to eat seeds from my hand.   Below is what William Stafford (1914-1993) United States Poet Laureate wrote about the Junco.

JUNCOS

They operate from elsewhere,

some hall in the mountains -

quick visit, gone.

Specialists on branch ends,

craft union.   I like their

clean little coveralls.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder