Where do Dark-eyed Juncos like to nest?

Dark-eyed Junco by VJAnderson

Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Greg Gillson

Dark-eyed Juncos summer in forest openings in northern parts of North America and in forested mountains in the West. Up to 66% of all Dark-eyed Juncos nest in the boreal forests. In winter they move south and are found in most of the United States. They are a common feeder bird in winter.

If you have Dark-eyed Juncos in your area year round can you entice them to nest in your backyard?

Dark-eyed Juncos build an open cup nest on the ground, often in tall grass against or under a root ball or tree trunk. The nest is often hidden by overhanging vegetation such as ferns or other dense plants. They do not use nest boxes. They may, however, nest in undisturbed potted plants on the ground or even hanging pots!

This article is a supplement to my overview page on Dark-eyed Juncos. The overview page leads to other articles on Dark-eyed Juncos, including where they live, what they look like, and what they eat. This page discusses courtship, nesting and reproduction.

Photo of Dark-eyed Junco nest. Cup nest with 4 white eggs spotted with brown and hidden among grass
Dark-eyed Junco nest and eggs
Image by karchicken from Pixabay

Nesting habits and reproduction of Dark-eyed Juncos

Male juncos arrive on territory before the females. Males start singing in March and April. Males sing from a high, conspicuous perch. The males chase off other males invading their territory.

Males court the female. Then the female chooses the nest site and she builds the nest, usually concealed on the ground.

After the female lays the egg, she incubates the eggs until they hatch. Both parents feed the nestlings and continue to do so for a couple of weeks after the young leave the nest.

Juncos are monogamous during the nesting season, but may choose new mates each year. Actually, these birds are “socially monogamous.” The pair stays with their one mate raise the young together. However, both birds may frequently copulate with juncos in adjoining territories.

Females that lose their mate through death quickly mate with a neighboring male who may have their own nest and young to care for. These “single moms” take care of raising their own young by themselves.

Dark-eyed Juncos usually breed for the first time when one year old. They usually produce two broods per year, sometimes three. Nest predation is very high. Eggs and young are preyed upon by rodents in the forest.

              Dark-eyed Junco by Cephas

Courtship and mating

Male juncos arrive on the breeding grounds well before the females. They begin singing from tall exposed perches. They defend their territories vigorously against other male juncos. Territories may be 2-3 acres in size.

The song is a simple musical trill on one pitch.

Dark-eyed Junco pairs are formed in April. Courting males fan their wings and tails and hop up and down. They pick up moss or nesting material to present to the female. Males chirp and sing their trilled songs as they court the female.

Males of the mated pair stay quite close to the females at all times except if chasing away other male juncos from the territory.

Nest building

The female Dark-eyed Junco does most of the nest building herself. The male may help by bringing nest materials for her to add. The birds may take up to 9 days to complete the nest.

Nests are usually placed on the ground. Nests are well hidden under roots or against tree trunks. They may be covered by bushes or tufts of grass (see photo at top of page). They often have some kind of overhanging shelter over the nest.

Nests are cup-shaped and made of grasses and plant fibers. Nest material may include twigs, moss, and bark strips. The inside of the nest is lined with grass and mammal hair.

I have found conflicting information on whether juncos reuse their nests. It appears that even with successive broods in the same year, Dark-eyed Juncos usually build new nests each time. This makes sense, as a nest, especially on the ground, is likely to be infested with mites and lice and other insects after raising 3-6 nestlings. Nevertheless, juncos do, sometimes, reuse their nest.

Nest boxes

Dark-eyed Juncos will not use nest boxes. However, they may nest in large flower pots with bushy flowers or plants, including rarely hanging flower pots.

A first nesting of a junco in a nest box in Washington Sate in 2016 earned an article in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology (pdf abstract). That’s how rare it is for this species (or most related New World sparrows) to nest in a box.

While juncos won’t use nest boxes, you may still attract Dark-eyed Juncos to nest in your backyard. The key is allowing a bit of unkempt or natural yard.

Plant several dense spruce trees with branches near the ground. Keep the area around the trees unmanicured so that tall grass grows up. This may work to entice juncos to nest. Other dense bushes with leaves to the ground along a wooden fence may also work. Even a dense flower garden may provide nesting grounds (see video below).

Obviously, ground nesting birds need protection from cats and other predators. So if you suspect nesting in your backyard, please don’t look for the nest. If you look for the nest, you will trample a path up to the nest that predators may follow. You may also step on the hidden nest yourself.

Eggs

Dark-eyed Juncos lay eggs as early as March. But since they may nest up to 3 times a season, they may have eggs in the nest as late as August. They lay from 3-6 eggs, frequently 4-5. Early clutches are more likely to have more eggs, later clutches fewer.

In Oregon, nests with eggs or young were found from April 25th to early August. Lowland nesting was earlier than in the mountains (Birds of Oregon: a general reference).

In the mountains of San Diego County, Dark eyed Juncos were noted building nests as early as April 18 and feeding young as early as May 13. However, right along the coast in San Diego, birds build nests as early as February and fledge their last set of chicks in August and September (San Diego County Bird Atlas).

Eggs have a white or gray base color, often with a bluish or greenish hue. They are lightly speckled with brown, mostly on the larger end of the egg. Eggs are about 0.8 inches long.

Females alone incubate the eggs. Eggs are incubated 11-13 days before they hatch.

Dark-eyed_Junco by Channel City Camera Club

Young–nestlings and fledglings

Young hatch naked and helpless (altricial). The nestlings remain in the nest for 10-13 days.
Both parents feed the nestlings. Young are fed mostly insects.

Young birds leave the nest in juvenile plumage. They appear as small brown sparrows with brown streaks on the breast. The flashing white tail feathers and twittering calls quickly give away their identity. Parents accompany and feed the fledglings for about 3 weeks before they are on their own.

The juvenile plumage lasts 2 to 3 months before they molt into an adult-like plumage. Newer bird watchers aren’t fooled very long by the sparrow-like plumage of juvenile Dark-eyed Juncos. They behave as adult juncos, with perhaps even more flashing of their white outer tail feathers.

Wrapping Up

Dark-eyed Junco might look a little non-descript but they are fascinating creatures. Here are some facts about them:

Winter Champions: These plump bundles of feathers thrive in chilly temperatures, even venturing above the snowline in mountains. Their thick, insulating feathers and ability to huddle together for warmth make them winter wonder birds.

Seedsational Singers: Don’t let their wintery stoicism fool you! Juncos have a sweet, complex song, often described as a high-pitched “tweet, tweet-tweet, chew-chew-chew.” It’s a cheerful serenade that brightens even the coldest days.

Masters of Camouflage: Their slate gray or black upperparts and white bellies blend seamlessly with snow and tree bark, offering them excellent protection from predators. It’s like they wear a natural winter coat!

Acrobatic Seeders: While they often forage on the ground, juncos are surprisingly agile climbers. They’ll nimbly hop and flit through branches, expertly maneuvering to reach the juiciest seeds hidden within dense foliage.

Social Butterflies (Sometimes): In winter, you might find them in loose flocks, foraging and roosting together for warmth and companionship. But don’t be fooled, during breeding season, their inner territoriality emerges, and they’ll fiercely defend their nests.

Secret Weapon: Those little pink feet you might glimpse aren’t just for show! They act like snowshoes, spreading their weight and preventing them from sinking in the snow. Talk about winter-ready adaptations!

Global Gypsies: Dark-eyed Juncos aren’t just one bird; they’re a whole family! With six distinct subspecies found across North America, from the snowy peaks of Alaska to the sunny shores of Mexico, they’re true avian globetrotters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between junco and sparrows?

Juncos and sparrows are both small songbirds belonging to the family Thraupidae, but they have some distinct differences:

Appearance:

  • Juncos:
    • Larger than most sparrows, typically 5-6 inches long.
    • Chunky, rounded body with a thick bill.
    • Bold coloration varies by subspecies, but often includes slate gray or black upperparts, white bellies, and white outer tail feathers that flash prominently in flight.
    • Some subspecies have pink or yellow breasts.
  • Sparrows:
    • More diverse in size, ranging from 4-7 inches long.
    • Generally slenderer with thinner bills.
    • Plumage varies widely, often featuring brown, gray, and streaked patterns for camouflage.
    • White outer tail feathers less noticeable, if present at all.

Habitat:

  • Juncos:
    • Prefer open coniferous forests, mountains, and woodlands.
    • Some species adapt to brushy fields and open areas, especially in winter.
  • Sparrows:
    • Found in a wider range of habitats, including grasslands, open fields, woodlands, deserts, and even urban areas.
    • Each species has specific habitat preferences.

Behavior:

  • Juncos:
    • Ground-feeders, spending most of their time foraging for seeds and insects on the ground.
    • May hop or walk rather than flitting and flying like many sparrows.
    • Have a distinctive “pink” call and a sweet, complex song.
  • Sparrows:
    • More arboreal, often foraging for seeds and insects in trees and shrubs.
    • Tend to be more active and flitting in their movements.
    • Have a variety of different calls and songs, some quite complex and beautiful.

Overall:

  • Juncos are like the “chunky cousins” of sparrows, with distinct coloration and a preference for ground foraging.
  • Sparrows are a more diverse group with wider habitat preferences and varied behaviors.

Where do dark-eyed juncos roost at night?

Dark-eyed juncos, those plump little bundles of feathered joy, tuck themselves into various cozy nighttime spots depending on the season and habitat:

Winter:

  • Evergreen trees: Their dense foliage provides shelter from wind and snow, offering warmth and protection while they slumber. Look for them tucked near the tree trunk or deeper within the boughs.
  • Brush piles: These tangled heaps of branches and leaves create sheltered nooks where juncos can huddle together for shared warmth.
  • Ground depressions: Underneath overhanging rocks, shrubs, or logs, nestled against the earth, you might find juncos tucked away for the night.

Summer:

  • Coniferous forests: They often roost high up in the branches of spruce, fir, or pine trees, seeking cooler temperatures and protection from predators.
  • Shrubbery: Dense bushes and thickets offer them camouflage and sheltered perches for resting through the night.
  • Vine tangles: Climbing vines intertwined with trees or shrubs create cozy hidden pockets where juncos can snuggle in for the evening.

Are Dark-eyed Juncos territorial?

While Dark-eyed Juncos hold a reputation for being social and somewhat tolerant birds, the answer to their territoriality isn’t quite black and white (pun intended!). They exhibit complex social behaviors that vary depending on several factors, like season, breeding status, and food availability.

Breeding Season: During the breeding season, juncos do become territorial, particularly males. They defend their nesting areas from other males to ensure success in raising their young. You might witness them singing loudly, chasing intruders, and puffing out their chests to appear larger.

Non-breeding Season: Outside of breeding season, their territoriality relaxes considerably. They often form loose flocks in search of food, foraging together peacefully or even sharing roosting sites. However, even during this time, minor squabbles might occur over particularly desirable seeds or prime perches.

Food Abundance: Food availability also plays a role. In areas with plentiful resources, juncos tend to be more tolerant of sharing space. But when food is scarce, competition can intensify, leading to more pronounced territorial displays.

Overall: Dark-eyed Juncos might not be fiercely territorial like some bird species, but they do exhibit a flexible blend of sociality and territoriality depending on the circumstances. Observing their fascinating behavior throughout the year reveals their remarkable adaptability and resourcefulness.

Back to the Overview page for Dark-eyed Junco.

Comments 102
  1. We live at 9200 feet in Colorado so have Junco's here throughout the summer. This past week, I've been doing a lot of work outdoors and the garage door has been open because of that. A nesting pair of Junco's discovered the open garage about a week ago and despite me being constantly in and out have tried to take up nest building; I found they had started a nest inside an open box of Splenda sitting on a shelf at the back end of the garage. We cleaned that out and closed the box, but they continue to hang around whenever the door is up.

  2. Thanks for sharing, Wayne!

    While unusual, sometimes birds find places to nest that we consider strange or "unnatural." They must feel safe in there!

  3. Hi Greg,
    I too have a cohabitation story to tell: In April a junco couple set up house & home on my screened porch! The mom built a nest on a recessed ledge (near the roof, thus out of eyesight) and soon enough was feeding her hatched chicks, along with the dad, who worked vigorously throughout every day to provide food. Every time they did so, the chicks squawked loudly, a noise I would not have recognized had I not known from where it came. Then, this past Saturday, the last chick flew out of the nest and onto the porch, where it hopped around for an hour or so while testing its wings, its parents regularly nearby to keep an eye out. At last it flew off the porch, and the newly airborne chick and the parents flew off into the woods. On Sunday my porch was strangely quiet and uneventful, and I immediately missed the junco family who had spent a month or so in quarantine with me. Then yesterday, Wednesday, the parents showed up on my porch together and flitted around for 5 or 10 minutes! I like to think that they were saying goodbye. —–What a gift.—–

  4. Update: the Junco couple has decided to re-use its nest on my porch. The female Junco is currently incubating the eggs while the male occasionally perches himself on the open porch door to vociferously click at me, undoubtedly expressing his annoyance that I am near the nest. No matter, we've all been here before (who would have thought!), and in less than a week I will be hearing the cacophony of the new brood of chicks. Amazing!

  5. Yesterday while mowing, I had a near miss with a junco nest. I mowed right over their nest, and luckily I had the blades up high enough where it didn't get destroyed, or stepped on! But now the nest and eggs are exposed! I'm wondering if I should go out and place some long grass over top, or something to protect them from predators

  6. Oh, that's too bad! I don't know if there is anything to be done. Anything you do is likely to bring even more attention. Fortunately, juncos nest several timers per season. There is still time to raise another family if this one fails.

  7. How long does it take for juncos to lay their eggs? I found a nest in my hanging fuchsia planter with two eggs in it. The next day there was another but have not seen the mother around. I thought the nest had been abandoned at first.

  8. Good question, Mona!

    Most birds lay one egg per day in the nest until all the eggs in the clutch are laid. Only then do they incubate. That way all the eggs hatch about the same day. Chicks grow so fast–they need to be the same size to all survive, as the larger, noisier chick gets fed more.

  9. Thank you very much Greg!!! I’m really enjoying reading all the posts and the website. I’ve learned a lot!!!

  10. We have a pair of juncos who decided to nest on our front porch (on top of a small wood ledge below the roof). We’re very excited but it saddens us that the nest easily blows away! We decided to drill a small wooden platform to extend the surface area today… is there anything else we can do to help? It’s been about a week now. We noticed they’re very persistent and even though the nest blows away almost daily, they keep coming back to try again and again!

  11. We had a pair of juncos lay 4 eggs in a nest inside our geranium pot along the central coast of California in early June. 3 hatched and fledged, one egg remained after the rest fledged. We removed the nest and the unviable egg hoping the parents would build a new one in the same spot (we heard they don't reuse nests). Less than a week later they started on a new nest. There was one egg in the nest yesterday morning but no additional eggs were laid today. Should we be concerned the nest was abandoned? I thought they lay one egg each day. Thanks!

  12. Thanks for sharing your junco story, Tina!

    Can you perhaps tap a couple small nails part way in to hold back the bottom sticks from blowing away?

    They may need to learn to look for a better place! Birds learn from failure too.

  13. Hi Greg, thanks for your response! We ended up attaching a short wood border around the platform and so far so good! The nest looks pretty solid today. If anything else happens we’ll try the nails 😀

  14. So it is 10 degrees out tonight. We have a junco that eats seed on our deck during the day. Should we move him into the garage for this polar chillif we can get him into a bird cage we have.

  15. Loved your info ane videos. We have lots of them in our yard Woodstock CT…they are so tiny and quick. They were ground feeders..rarely went to the big birdfeeder. They were there inthe coldest months leave for North by april and May. I also go to northern Vermont woods to hear my favorite songster the Hermit Thrush…another ground nester. THANKS SO MUCH…HAVE YOU DONE A BLOG ON HERMIT THRUSH?

  16. Yesterday I found a junco nesting in a large wreath that hangs on my front door here in San Jose, CA. Needless to say, I cannot use my front door now since opening it brings a highly agitated bird, nest and egg(s) several feet into my living room. The little bird is adorable in my wreath but it is also extremely inconvenient. How long does the process from junco egg to fledge take? and how common is this?

  17. Nope. The juncos will be just fine. The stress of capture may be worse than the stress of cold weather.

  18. Thanks for sharing, Cindyanna.

    You may find the juncos in your mountain woods in summer.

    Oh, the song of Hermit Thrush is so amazing and ethereal! I love to hear them sing in the mountain forests in summer.

    I've not written about them in this blog. But I have mentioned them or shown their photos in a couple of my personal blogs over the years.

  19. How wonderful!

    In general, 3 weeks from laying to hatching. 3 more weeks to fledging.

    You should have your door back by June… unless they decide to lay a second clutch!

  20. I too have a junco nest on my front porch, on a beam where it meets the roof. But I find funny is that my 12 year old Yorkie likes to sit on his little bed on the front porch and watch people in cars drive by. He doesn't bark at the juncos and they don't mind him at all. Anytime I walk out the door however, Mama bird flies out of the nest and calls for Daddy bird to come investigate.

  21. On April 13th we had a dark eyes Junco mama lay four of her precious eggs in my hanging basket on the front porch. Today is April 28th and mama bird was not in the nest so I had my husband pulled the hanging pot down for me to carefully water and WOW, we have babies! I carefully and barely watered as I gazing down at these naked open mouth little birds who are moving but not making a sound…yet hahaha! Mama bird came back as the hanging pot was being placed back and did a little jig on the porch railing for us before flying up to her babies. Oddly enough, the mama bird isn't scared of me. In fact yesterday she flew down to my feet and quietly watched me as I talked to her then she proceeded to walk on the porch railing and dig around in my new flower garden before flying to her nest. Such a neat reward.

  22. Thanks for the wonderful article on Juncos! I work at a park and we found a nest inside a drawer in a seldom-used restroom building. We are closing the room until they fledge and were happy to learn some more about these cute little birds.

  23. Greg, my mother and I found a black-eyed junco nest in one of our potted plants on the ground in our backyard. There were 4 newborn black-eyed juncos, with eyes still sealed shut. We were absolutely delighted!

    Now, three days later, the baby birds are all gone. We're devastated. It looks like the nest was tampered with by a predator. What could have happened to the babies? We were concerned about the location of the nest. The potted plant is a bit of an anomaly and almost directly in the middle of our backyard. It was not well hidden from other animals. We live in Southern California if that's helpful.

    We really want to protect the baby birds. How can we prevent this from happening again? Thank you, Greg!

  24. Oh, that is sad.

    Remember, I wrote in the article: "They usually produce two broods per year, sometimes three. Nest predation is very high. Eggs and young are preyed upon by rodents in the forest."

    At 3-6 eggs per nest, and 2-3 nests per year, these birds produce 6-18 eggs every year. That's maybe 30-90 eggs in an average 5-year life time.
    To keep the population stable, only 2 eggs hatch and reach adulthood to breed themselves in those 5 years, in order to exactly replace the two parents.

    If more than that are successful, then the population explodes. Less, and they become locally extinct ("extirpated" is the correct word).

    I don't think you can do anything. Parent birds learn from their mistakes. They may choose a more hidden location next time.

  25. Thanks for your explanation. This explanation is both empathetic and rational. It really helps me put things into perspective. Thank you, Greg!

  26. reading these comments about people and their stories about juncos trusting them, ive been feedeing mine for a minimum of two years and they dont come near, haha

  27. Hey Greg the Junco Birds family that lived on my porch just flew away with their babies, but they left one unhatched egg in their bird nest. They haven't been back for days, and is it possible if I can hatch it manually?

  28. No. It is defective.

    The parents incubated is for 3 weeks, then incubated the fledglings and this egg for an additional 2 or 3 more weeks. If it hasn't hatched by now, it's never going to.

  29. Every year we have dark eyed juncos nesting in the vines growing against a wall in the backyard. Then nests are about 5 feet off the ground. We sometimes see the fledglings hopping around on the ground, usually emerging from a hidden spot to get fed by their parents. It seems they cannot fly yet…but how did they get there from their elevated nests?

  30. Well, Coco, they weigh so little that they can "fall" without getting hurt. They can also hop and crawl out on the vines to the ground.

    Even those tiny stubs of wings can create a bit of lift!

  31. We have a pair of juncos that managed to nest in our garage – is it safe move the nest to a different location? They are sweet birds, but this is not a good location for them to be. How can we discourage them from nesting in there again next season (aside from keeping the garage door closed)?

  32. Once the eggs hatch the parents will be more attached. You might try to move the nest then. However, it is best to just wait another 2 weeks for them to fledge on their own, if possible.

    I don't know how to make your garage less attractive to them. Can you move or make a shelf or whatever they are using in the garage to the outside? Might be a good experiment.

    They do nest in hanging baskets or potted flowers. You might try that.

    They often nest at least twice per season. So you may be able to experiment right away.

  33. We had a Mama junco choose the wreath by our front door for her nest. It has been an amazing experience watching her hatch her eggs, then watching her and her "husband" bring the babies food all day. Then, just today, the babies learned to fly and left the nest. It has been such a beautiful and wonderful thing to see although I must admit I am sad to see them go. My question is, where do they go now? Up to now, I have known almost nothing about birds at all. Where do the parents and babies live now, while the babies are still so small? I have noticed them hanging around our Pacific Madrone in the front yard. Is it possible that the parents have been living there and now the babies are moving in? Do they have a bigger, different type of nest that they sleep in, or do they perch on a tree branch when they sleep? Sorry for all the questions. These sweet adorable birds have become such a part of my life and I really want to know where they are headed and what happens to them now. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

  34. I am pretty sure they go way up north. They actually spend the winter in New England (I use to live in CT and had them around in winter snow and all). One a bird leaves the nest they don't come back so they are probably hanging with parents in the trees and will fly north with them.
    cindy

  35. Rachel,

    Since you have nesting juncos, you live in the northern US (or Canada) or West, possibly near mountain forests.

    If juncos are there in summer, they are around all winter, too. They like dense forest floor with ferns and the like.

    After just a few weeks out of the nest the young birds are out on their own. But juncos form into large flocks in fall and winter. They are easily attracted to your feeders.

    They just spend the night in dense bushes, they don't build a nest except to lay eggs. However, they may raise 3 batches of young each nesting season.

  36. Here in Western WA, we had a pair of juncos make a nest in an overgrown flowerpot. Unfortunately we missed the babies fledging as we were out of town. It seems the parents have chosen to make another nest in the middle of our backyard lawn under an empty potting soil bag. We've been going around it, but we want to check up on the birds to know when they've left and we can mow again. If I peek under the bag, will they freak out or abandon the nest? We saw one egg 2 weeks ago. Thanks for this post!

  37. Eight days ago I started to water my hanging fuchsia basket and a junco flew out of basket. I took a peak inside and saw a tiny nest with 4 tiny eggs. Is it okay to continue watering the plant or not?

  38. Eggs should hatch 2 weeks after laid. Once they hatch you should hear the chicks in the nest, especially when adults return. That takes 2 more weeks.

    If 2 weeks have passed and you don't hear anything, then it's safe to take a peak.

  39. You may try around the edges. Once the eggs hatch the adults will be LESS likely to abandon the nest if disturbed.

  40. Just found Juncos nesting inside a Sunpatiens hanging basket outside by door to kitchen. I went to turn the plant to water and Dad flew out. Then I saw nest. Fortunately it is a “self-watering” pot so I can water it from below without disturbing nest. I think they have been there about a week. Only see Dad coming and going. My patio is full of plants like fuschia, cuphea, aubitilon, salvia. Lots of bees, birds, bugs. Love your info. I am going away in a week, and I pray my “plant sitter” will be wary, of course I will leave instructions. I hope I get back before they hop out on the patio, so I can keep my dog away!

  41. They are usually ground nesters. Hopefully you can give them a safe place from dogs . The babies hatch in 2 to 3 weeks. Good luck.

  42. Interesting. The female sometimes abandons the family with dad after the young are out of the nest. Then she goes and finds another male to start a second family.

  43. You are right, Cindyanna. Then, after they hatch, it is another 2 weeks or so before they're out of the nest–well before they can fly.

  44. Being out of the nest before they fly makes it dangerous for the little juncos due to predation. They are a favorite of mine.

  45. I have Juncos flying back and forth from my garden to under my porch. Wondering if they might have nest under there. Not going to go look for it, but not a great place since I see the chipmunks go under there all the time. The juncos have become my favorite bird as they are keeping those cabbage worms at bay. Could not figure out what they where doing in garden as I thought they only ate seeds, then I looked up diet so they are free to roam my garden and eat the pests as I don’t use pesticides. Hoping they are collecting the insects to feed babies. They don’t seem to mind me coming and going as it is only door that I can unlock from outside. On side porch I have feeders and the juncos along with the cardinals eat the seeds on the railing and really don’t care if I am there and will fly down to eat.

  46. Junco's are ground feeders (bugs, seeds, worms, etc). I had them in Connecticut and they never went on the bird feeders, just below them and ate the seeds on the ground. They are also nest on the ground. They usually head north in the summer and stick around New England in the winter. I live in florida and I have never seen one down here. I miss them. They are sweet. Good luck with them under your porch.

  47. Sounds like you are really enjoying your birds!

    There is definitely a nest somewhere nearby, judging from that behavior.

  48. I had a pair of dark eyed junco nesting in my hanging fuscia basket. There were three eggs until two days back and when we checked back today, the eggs were gone. The nest is empty. What's your best guess about what happened here? No scattered shells or disturbed appearance of the nest that would indicate any predator activity.

  49. My guess is a bird flew off with the eggs. Jays, crows, blackbirds, and of them or others might eat eggs.

  50. Hi Greg, we have been thrilled to watch a junco couple make a family in a hanging pot on our porch, protected by a bamboo screen on one side. We had four eggs, four hatchlings, and then today three of them fledged and the parents followed them. It’s been several hours and they seem to have abandoned the fourth, who is just silently waiting. I’m leaving it alone for the night as it’s at least safe, but what would you do or not do tomorrow and in the days ahead? It seems it might just die in our hanging basket, and although it’s probably extremely common it breaks my heart and I wish I could help somehow. Any and all of your insights greatly appreciated. 🙏

  51. Will junco feed another birds babies? I saw one feeding a noticeably larger sparrow colored bird (larger than a sparrow though).

  52. An update: early this morning the last baby left the nest! I guess I shouldn’t have worried so much as my mother in law laughed and said “aww he’ll be out of there as soon as he gets hungry enough.” She was certainly right! I apologize for taking up space for this, but I really wished last night that I had been able to find an answer/similar query so I am leaving it here. Here is a wish for all of the little
    baby birds out there✨

  53. Michelle,

    You witnessed a case of brood parasitism!

    In this case, a Brown-headed Cowbird laid its egg in the nest of a Song Sparrow. Cowbirds don't build a nest and NEVER hatch their own eggs! They lay their eggs in the nests of smaller birds. Because the baby cowbird is larger and grows faster than the adoptive parents chicks, the cowbird chick is often the only egg to survive.

    This is good for the cowbird species survival, but not so much for the host species.

    Cowbird eggs are removed from the nests of Kirtland's Warblers via special permit to keep the warblers from going extinct. This is illegal without a permit, as cowbirds are protected by law, as are all native birds.

  54. Dyan, Many birds leave the nest before they can fly. The parents take care of them on the ground for a few days while wings strengthen.

  55. We have a junco family in a raised planter right next to our front door and it's the most amazing thing I have ever seen! There are 3 little babies and they are so tiny and super adorable. I have been savoring every moment as I know they will fly away soon.

  56. Love this blog! We have a Junco nest on out porch in our false wall plants of all things! The nest is protected on our covered patio and the birds are probably about a week old (seeing some feathers and bright eyes). However, this evening, the one mama bird we've seen for weeks didn't come home. It's very late and she's usually back by now, but we're afraid she might have prematurely abandoned her babes…what do we do if she doesn't come back? Is this typical behavior? Thanks a bunch for being so thoughtful and thorough for inquisitive folks like us.

  57. Interesting observations. Female juncos often abandon the young to the father's care after they leave the nest. Then the female goes and finds another male to raise another brood.

    But I wouldn't think the female would abandon the nest while the nestlings were still there. Perhaps something sad happened to her.

  58. We have a female who build a nest in our flower box with plastic flowers. She laid 4 eggs and they hatched about 6 days ago. It is fun watching both female and male taking turns getting food and feeding the young ones. This flower box is on our deck and we spent a lot of time on it. They recognize us and just do their thing not paying any attention to us

  59. Hi! What a wonderful thread. I'm enjoying all the knowledge. It's so hard to find out information about wild birds! I have two questions — one, how long does it take the fledglings to start developing adult coloration? And two, is there anything to be done for wild birds with mites?

    I had a nest of four baby juncos on my patio early April and all fledged, much to my relief. One seemed to be itching and scratching more than the others, maybe from sensitivity to mites, and that one developed a lot of wing strength from the extra motion and was the first out of the nest. Now a few months later there's a chubby junco with a very disordered feather situation and curved tailfeathers. The junco that I think is the mama accompanies it to my birdfeeder for food and water from time to time.
    I'm wondering if that could be the same nestling. It is now early June and the bird has a dark adult hood now. Would three months be the right time for adult coloration, or is this a different bird? Since the other siblings were less affected I'm wondering if this bird has a skin sensitivity. I read something online about putting tiny amounts of ivermectin in water to help with wild bird mites but am hesitant to try anything so drastic and have no idea how to determine safe dosages for such small birds anyway. Yet she/he is obviously uncomfortable.

  60. We had the same situation, mowing over a nest. We took some chicken wire and weaved branches to create a screen for the nest. Momma has come back to sit on the eggs.

  61. Yes, mites are a problem for some birds. I wouldn't try "medicating" wild birds, though.

    Juncos leave the nest with a streaky brown juvenile plumage that they may keep for 3 months or so before molting into an adult-like body plumage. They would probably keep their juvenile wing and tail feathers, though, until the next fall.

    Other birds, that change appearance in summer and winter molt all feathers in fall, just body feathers in spring.

    There is a wide variety of exceptions to these two basic molt strategies.

  62. Most birds will probably not abandon the nest, if possible. However, it is now more exposed to predators. Anything you add is likely to make the nest more noticeable.

  63. Thank you for this blog and reply. I believe I have juncos, which are delightful, newly nesting in a large Boston fern on my patio. I watered it today and they were very agitated, although before now they have seemed okay with me being around them, and seemed to not mind me sitting two feet from the basket. I hope that I didn't drown them and will carefully water the fern as I don't want to lose either the plant or the juncos!

  64. So we have a junco nest in a hanging basket on our second floor balcony. Since these birds are normally ground nesters will the babies survive the fall from the nest when it is time?

  65. Hi Greg!

    I absolutely love this feed and as I'm reading everyone's story I am filled with joy.

    I live in San Mateo, CA and I noticed less than a month ago a junco kept going in and out of last year's small Christmas tree we decided to report for this year. The tree is only about 4 feet tall but it's very bushy and provides perfect protection for a nest. I peaked in and sure enough there were 3 tiny eggs. Now both the mother and father are flying in and out taking turns. I am assuming the eggs hatched but we don't hear anything. I have only watered the tree once since I found the nest but I know the nest is not on the soil so I could water it without being intrusive. Today I laid out a small amount of bird seed in the back corner where only they would see it and now they are using that to, what I assume, feed their babies. If I get too close I think the female starts hopping around chirping at me all crazy, but from what I have read that's usually what the male does. Is there a way, other than the white tail, to distinguish between male and female? I have named the female Junipher and the male Juniphim….

  66. Thanks so much for the info about molts Greg! I appreciate it! Yeah, I've decided there's nothing much I can do except provide seed and water and a comfortable place for the birdies — we do wistfully wish we could help them, though. Easy to get attached!

  67. Yes, birds are so light weight that falls usually won't kill them. Same for small animals–mice can survive falls from any height, apparently.

  68. Ah, wonderful! Aren't there a lot of great stories here in the comments?

    Males (of the Oregon Junco variety found in California) have jet-black hoods. Females have gray hoods.

  69. Well, we wouldn't be very good humans if we didn't get attached to a bird nesting in our space, now would we?

  70. After they lay the eggs do they leave the eggs for days at a time? I have 5 eggs in a nest in a hanging basket and the mama was on them for a week, only leaving in the morning. Now she’s been gone for a couple of days. Yesterday both the female and male came back, they checked out the nest and the eggs and left, they came back one more time and left again and haven’t been back.. Will they come back again? Is that normal behaviour, do they do that until the eggs hatch?

  71. So glad to have found your blog! I have a pair of Juncos who have nested in a hanging basket on my back porch. The porch is mostly glassed in with an opening right above the planter where the parents access the nest and a large opening where we access the area. The parents are comfortable flying through the triangle shaped opening- it's large, 10' long x 3' at the widest. I am very worried that the babies, when ready to fly, will get stuck in the enclosed porch, as if they don't fly directly up and out they will be contained in the glassed in area. It is only about a foot from the edge of the planter to the top of the beam where the opening is. They've got about a week to go I think. Any suggestions? Thanks

  72. Once the eggs are laid it should be very hard to get the female to leave the nest. Something must be wrong.

  73. I don't have any good ideas. Is it possible to lean a dead branch they could hop up and out the opening?

  74. We have Dark-eyed Juncos year-round in Sausalito. They come to our cage feeders all day long. The males are aggressive with others of their own kinds, as you said. But the other day, one male approached a female at the end of a windowsill where I had thrown sunflower seeds. Typically, the male would have chased her away. But he hopped slowly toward her and she remained. When he was a few inches away, he bowed three or four times. She simply watched. Then they flew upward together in a spiral, rather like the way courting hummingbirds fly together. It is November. Why would a male display courtship behavior? Is this an immature bird practicing courtship rituals? Why did the female stay?

  75. It does sound like breeding behavior. It's several months early for actual breeding. But males do start singing in late winter. Just getting friendly, I guess.

  76. That's cool how they reused the nest-I heard that's rare!

  77. Maybe they climbed down the vines bit could be possible if they have good enough grip.

  78. We have a junco nest, eggs laid about 11 days ago, mama comes and goes, as of the last 2 days she has not left the nest, no male is bringing her food and she seems weak, always laying on the eggs, mostly sleeping, we are concerned?

  79. Maybe the male is injured. Did he usually bring food?

  80. What an interesting blog! Thank you for all the information. We have an Oregon Junco nesting in a plantar in our yard. I read another comment that I should just wanted around the edge but I tried that and one of the birds flew out. Would it be safe and possibly better (less of a heavy stream) for me to lightly mist from above?

  81. Sorry that should have said “water” not “wanted”.

  82. It could be that the eggs are just about ready to hatch and the mother doesn't want to leave. I believe that the males are more involved after the eggs hatch. In fact, sometimes the female leaves the fledglings with the father and goes off and nests again with a different male!

  83. I think edge watering is better than misting. Can you put off watering until the young leave the nest?

  84. about 4 weeks ago i had noticed a junco with nest building materials out and about near my balcony. It took me a while to find it but they nested in my tomato plant! it was amazing to see the bird’s cycle and to watch the three little babies growing up. there was a scare with my cat once or twice where i was sure the juncos would abandon their nest but they came back and i was so excited to see the babies jump off my balcony and fly away today.

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