Something Downeast

Technically, Juncos are members of the Sparrow family; and they do share some Sparrow characteristics. They’re one of the New England winter birds I was accustomed to seeing as a child, sometimes feeding from the platform feeder, but most commonly, gleaning seeds on the ground. The official name for the local variety in Maine is Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). But if you look at older bird guides or compare more modern field guides, you’ll note that there’s a fair amount of variation in coloration. As a child, I remember the New England form being called a Slate-colored Junco. They were Winter birds, arrive with the first snowfall, and leaving before the Crocus bloomed.

Here in Maine, they still favor the ground, but they also use the tube-feeders, enjoying both finch mix and black-oil sunflower. They still have the definitely pink feet and beaks I remember as a child. They spent a fair amount of time last week during the storm

sheltering in the shrubbery, and yesterday, I took some pictures of one sitting in the Rhododendron:

The Juncos in Washington and California look quite different from Maine Juncos:

Dark-eyed Junco; Puget Sound, WA

 

Older bird guides sometimes call this variety with its distinct darker “hood” and rusty brown on the top an “Oregon Junco.” Some individuals are much more strikingly colored, with a very dark head and a very brown body.

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I confess that when there’s a big snow storm like this one, I look forward enormously to spotting the birds. Today was a good bird day. Lots of birds took shelter in the hedges next to the windows, and I managed to entice some to feed from the window still, and even my hand. I have lost the knack of taking pictures while hand-feeding, alas, but I some ideas about making that easier.  I saw Juncos, Black-capped chickadees, an unknown sparrow variety, American Goldfinches, Tufted Titmice, and male and female cardinals. More importantly, while the snow was falling and they were sheltering in snow-covered rhododendrons, I heard them singing, not just calling or bragging about finding food. Spring is tangentially here, despite the snow.

American Goldfinch in Winter plumage; I think it’s a male.

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It was still snowing when I took these, and it’s still snowing now; large, wet flakes.

 

Six hours later, and it’s still snowing.

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Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus

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Birds have been scarce today, as if they too were waiting for the storm. I’ve filled the feeders, spotted a few sparrows of unknown type, and these guys:

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). When I hear them call, I know it’s Spring.

Black-capped Chickadee waiting for the snow.

I actually took male Northern Cardinal photo this yesterday.

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