Dark Eyed Junco

California Native of the Week!

Junco hyemalis, or the Dark Eyed Junco, is a bird that can be easily found all over the United States. While they do migrate, if you are fortunate enough to live on the Northern and Central California coast and valley, they can be found year-round. It’s estimated that there are approximately 630 million individuals (Cornell Lab).

This chunky dark bird has a variety of subspecies, so keep an eye out for it’s dark eyes, pink beak, and the white feathers that frame the tail. So far the variations I’ve seen in California, have been the Oregon variety, which are distinct in their dark feathered hood, light brown back, and white belly.

You can find Dark Eyed Juncos in forested areas; in my experience, so long as an area has a decent number of trees, they will be there. They are mostly shy, but with a calm enough demeanor, you can get decently close to one for good photos. Like other sparrows I’ve encountered, they are observant and cautious, but will approach closer if you are still. However, they are very wary of sudden movements and unlikely to return to your spot anytime soon if you scare them good.

This drawing was made with red colored pencil to sketch the form, pen to ink the form, and finally watercolor for a pop of color. They traditionally don’t have hats, but this guy seemed a bit cold. This drawing is based on a male I spotted in Monterey, CA in the rain.