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

May Bird of the Month: Baltimore Oriole

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As the state bird of Maryland and mascot of Baltimore’s baseball team, the Baltimore Oriole is quite familiar among Marylanders, however, they are not seen as often as one might think.

April Bird of the Month: Red Winged Black Bird

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The Red Winged Black Bird is one of the most common black birds in our area, and the males are very recognizable with their all black feathers and reddish orange and yellow shoulder patch that can be tucked among their black feathers or left out in the open in full display.

March Bird of the Month: Hermit Thrush

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A member of the Thrush family, the Hermit Thrush is seen in our region throughout the winter months and spends its time foraging through the understory.