DARK-EYED JUNCO
WR

Summer visitors to the Historic Triangle are not likely to see a dark-eyed junco, but persons coming to the area in winter will soon become familiar with this bird. Originally and by rights it was called a snowbird, but in 1830 scientists brought out the new name of junco for the delightful little fellow who comes in just before a snowfall or during it. As heavy weather does not bother him, flocks can be seen feeding together on seed laden bushes during severe snows.

The dark-eyed junco is neat, trim and sleek in his conservative suit of light gray topped with an overcoat that is nearly black. White outer tail feathers semaphore a signal for his friends to follow on helter-skelter flight over frosty fields. Seeds are his principal diet and they are taken from such noxious plants as ragweed, goldenrod, smartweed and hog weed. This cheerful member of the sparrow family is easily attracted to a home feeder with the use of cracked corn or baby chick feed.

The junco nests from New York and Pennsylvania northward to Alaska and Canada. Winters are spent throughout the Eastern United States.

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