Dark-Eyed Junco - December's Bird of the Month

Fall migration is almost officially over, which means one

of our favorite winter birds is here, the Dark-eyed junco! These little ground feeders are members of the sparrow family and are generally only in our region for the winter, preferring to breed further north. Dark-eyed juncos spend most of their time in understory trees and shrubs and foraging for seeds on the ground. Dark-eyed juncos exhibit a variety of color patterns but are typically dark grey with light grey to white bellies and have pink-colored beaks with white outer tail feathers. These are common feeder birds, but generally prefer to eat the seeds dropped on the ground by other birds, rather than using the feeder themselves. However, if you are interested in convincing them to use a feeder, a platform feeder is your best bet!

Also in Wildlife Blog

White-Breasted Nuthatch at a bird feeder

The White-Breasted Nuthatch - The Mill's Bird of the Month - February 2023

The White-breasted Nuthatch is a bird commonly seen in our region all year long. They have black and grey backs, white faces, and a white breast and belly. They are frequent feeder visitors throughout the year but will decrease their visits over the summer when insects are readily available.

Migrating flock of birds against clouds in a blue sky

Bird Migration

Bird migration refers to a trip many birds make throughout their lifespans that is mainly related to changing seasons and temperatures. It is usually longitudinal in nature, meaning the birds fly either north to south or south to north. In our region, we are fortunate...

White-Throated Sparrow perched in a tree

White-Throated Sparrow - January 2023 Bird of the Month

White-throated sparrows overwinter in our area, showing up around mid-to-late October, and leaving in late April or early May. These sparrows are fairly distinct from other sparrows