Juncoes harken winter
Juncoes announce winter's arrival. (C) Fotolia.com
Today when I walked out to put seed in the feeders, two juncoes (Junco hyemalis) flew from the lilac bush.
This was my first sighting this season of these lovely studies of charcoal, black and white. Their arrival from northern climes means that winter is not far behind. Juncoes are one of the true snowbirds, birds from Canada that winter in Indiana.
In winter, they eat seed, preferably from the ground, although they do visit niger and safflower feeders. They also take advantage of bird baths. I keep one bird bath going all winter with a little heater in the water.
Juncoes have white bellies and their tails flash white when they fly. They are a tiny bird, weighing 1/2- to 1 ounce, about 5- to 6-inches long. There is considerable regional variation in their black, gray and charcoal coloring. They are beautiful.
I wish I knew more about birds! I believe I get quite a few juncoes visiting my feeder in the winter time.
I thinking watching the birds is one of the rewards of gardening. I did not know anything about birds before I started gardening. I’ve only gone on one actual bird walk, years ago, but have learned so much just in my own yard. I love observing their behavior and learning more from the Stokes, Sibley and Peterson books and the Cornell Web site on ornithology (www.birds.cornell.edu). They are amazing creatures. Did you know you can see their breath when they exhale on really cold winter days?
So glad I found your posting. I wondered what those little birds in my back garden were. I live in Windsor- Canada’s most Southern city and they stopped to feed just hours befoe our first big snowfall was scheduled to hit.
Glad I was able to help. Come back often! (Windsor was the first Canadian city I visited…crossing over from Detroit on a family vacation eons ago.)