Cassiar Junco

[cairnstone]

For the second consecutive winter I have a Cassiar Junco. This one has not been as regular as the one last winter, but he does pop up from time to time since the past weekend. I took some photos which are good for ID. I'll post a photo of him when I get him in good light. I had my first January Brown Creeper in the yard yesterday as well. I also have a Northern Short-tailed Shrew, but wonder how long it will last with predators around.

[cairnstone]

In near darkness. Should be able to get a better photo of him.

[cairnstone]

[Axeman]

Is the distinction the brown on the back and lighter body ? I have seen similar birds mixed in with the slate juncos at my feeder from time to time and just thought it was one of those variations you find....

[cairnstone]

I am no expert on the subject, but I am led to believe it's the sharp contrast between the dark black hood (in males) and the lighter body. I don't think the amount of brown tells much since some Slate-coloured Juncos have a fair bit of brown. I have read that Cassiar Juncos are a result of hybridization between Oregon and Slate-coloured. Here's a short video of a Cassiar Junco in my backyard last year. This one has little or no brown on it but the black hood and the rest of the body sharply contrast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9AiUOeJJ_E

[Axeman]

Thanks ! lol don't laugh but I don't usually pay a lot of attention to the juncos at the feeders bc the jays, cardinals and nuthatches capture my interest more....I just found the juncos...kind of umm...ho humm....but now I guess I'm going to spend more time on them !

[cairnstone]

I have a female junco here now and she is very reddish-brown. I am pretty sure she is a Slate-coloured. Females come in many shades from my experience. Males that are different however, they seem to stick out like a sore thumb differentiating them from run-of-the-mill male Slate-coloured Juncos.

[cairnstone]

Another Cassiar Junco. Oddly enough I have been to Cassiar (a ghost town now) but never saw a Junco.