Dark-eyed Juncos

[Walter Fisher]

As like most of you, Juncos are an almost daily visitor to our yard this time of year.  They usually keep to themselves on the ground feeding here, there, and everywhere.  With 11 feeders hanging and lots of dried wildflowers left in the garden, they've got a lot to pick 'n' choose from over the winter.  Lately what I've found of interest is that some of the Juncos are now flying up to the feeders and eating directly from them, even when there are other birds, usually House Sparrows, present.  They normally don't stay very long though given the aggresive nature of the Sparrows.







Perhaps this habit is common for some of you but it's definitely new for me.

Walter

[Brian Bailey]

I agree. I can't recall the last time I saw a junco eat from a feeder of any kind. I generally don't get many in my yard, but when I do, they always feed on spilled seed on the ground.

BB

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[winz]

I also was surprised recently, to see a Dark-eyed Junco at my hopper feeder.  They are usually on the ground scratching away, and also feeding on fallen seeds.

[MikeN]

I saw some in feeders at Riverwood on Christmas day, although they are flat trays rather than hanging type. More often on the ground below though.

[Dinusaur]

I have seen them eating from my backyard feeders quite regularly. Here's one eating black oiled sunflower seeds today from the feeder preferred by the cardinals, nuthatches and chickadees. I am sure they adapt to the condition; snow covered almost everything that was there in the ground - so she chose to eat directly from the feeder.

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