Happy Mystery Monday! 🔎 Can you guess who is pictured in photo #1?
The answer to last week’s mystery is the dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis, pictured in photo #2.
The dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis, is one of North America’s most familiar sparrows and a true sign of Winter for many people. Often called “snowbirds,” these plump little birds breed in Canada and high-elevation mountain forests across the United States, then migrate south as temperatures drop, becoming abundant across much of the country—and sometimes feeding calmly even during snowstorms.
Juncos have a rounded head, short, stout bill, and a long, expressive tail edged in white. While their overall color varies by region, most appear gray or brown with a pink bill and bright white outer tail feathers that flash in flight. They favor forest edges, shrublands, and suburban areas with dense ground cover, where they hop along the leaf litter in search of seeds, often gathering in large flocks or mixing with other sparrows and songbirds.
During the breeding season, males perform small courtship displays, showing off their wings and tail while presenting nesting material to females. Nests typically contain three to six eggs, and pairs may raise up to three broods in a single year. Widespread, adaptable, and closely tied to seasonal change, the dark-eyed junco remains one of the most recognizable birds of North American winters.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
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