Junco - Oregon?

[winz]

This was just taken in my backyard in Mississauga.
Is it a female Oregon variety?



Thanks for your help.

[thouc]

To me it looks intermediate between an Oregon and a regular Slate-coloured Junco.

[Rotarran]

Could it be a so-called "Pink-sided"?

[thouc]

I don't believe Pink-sided Junco has ever been recorded in Ontario. It should have broader pink sides and a black lores (the area between bill and eye).

[Reuven_M]

I've never seen one, but it looks like a pretty obvious female Oregon to me.

[John]

Cassiar Junco?

And Pink-sided has been recorded in Ontario on more than one occasion.

[thouc]

Could fit with a female Oregon (possibly immature) or a Cassiar (hybrid/intergrade between Oregon and Slate-coloured) Junco.

And Pink-sided has been recorded in Ontario on more than one occasion.

Thanks for the information. I see there are three records on e-Bird in southern Ontario, the last one in 2010.

/Thomas

[Canoncan]

It is a female Slate-coloured Junco, the can be variable with the right light. I get these in my backyard in Whitby many times.

[John]

The hood looks a little distinct for our standard J. h. hyemalis Juncos.

[thouc]

The hood looks a little distinct for our standard J. h. hyemalis Juncos.

I agree.

[Canoncan]

This link shows a standard female, as I work I. Vancouver regularly I see them all time. The head is still darker than this bird
https://www.google.ca/search?q=female+o ... 1000%3B667

[thouc]

This link shows a standard female, as I work I. Vancouver regularly I see them all time. The head is still darker than this bird
https://www.google.ca/search?q=female+o ... 1000%3B667

That's why I mentioned immature female or Cassiar. Here's an example of what a BC birder call a brown female Oregon Junco, which would probably be an immature female. Interesting to note is that birds they call "Slate-coloured or Cassiar", we would definitely not think it would be anything else than a regular Slate-coloured if seen here.

[Canoncan]

I would lean to Cassiar