Dark-Eyed Juncos Are December Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar

Summary: Dark-eyed juncos are December birds on the 2022 Audubon calendar, on which the National Audubon Society assembles vulnerable birds of North America.

Swedish botanist, physician, taxonomist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-Jan. 10, 1778) accepted the common name snow-bird, from English artist and naturalist Mark Catesby (March 24, 1683-Dec. 23, 1749), for dark-eyed junco. He added snowbirds, under the scientific name Fringilla hyemalis (from Latin fringilla, "small [chaffinch, robin] bird" and hyemālis, "winter, wintry"), to his 10th edition of Systema Naturæ; John James Audubon, The Birds of America From Original Drawings (1827-1830), vol. 1, No. 3 Plate XIII: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Dark-eyed juncos are December birds on the 2022 Audubon calendar, on which the National Audubon Society assembles North America’s vulnerable birds that abide in, or access from Canada and Mexico, United States.

Autumnal and wintertime backyard feeders bring Passeriformes (from Latin passer, “sparrow” and -fōrmēs, “-shaped”) perching-bird and songbird order members from fields, gardens, parks and roadside thickets. Forests, mountains and woodlands contain that order’s Emberizidae (from Latin Emberiza, “bunting” and Greek -ειδής [“-like”] via Latin –idæ) seed-eating bird family members May through August. Breeding-season months domicile them among bank or slope brushwood, ferns, herbage, rocks, roots, stumps; in tree cavities; or on building ledges, building niches and conifer branches.

Female dark-eyed juncos establish cup-like, forest- or woodland-floor level to 8-foot- (2.44-meter-) high nests of bark strips, dry grasses, fine stems, mosses, rootlets and thin twigs.

Dark-eyed junco mothers-to-be fit one 3- to 5-egg brood, followed sometimes by a second clutch, sometimes by a third brood, into nests 12 to 13 days.

Mothers-to-be gestate purple- and red-brown-blotched, speckled and spotted, smooth, short sub-elliptical to semi-elliptical, semi-glossy, 19- by 14-millimeter (0.75- by 0.55-inch), blue-white to green-white or gray eggs. They handle nest-building and egg-incubating responsibilities on their own even as their mates help once brooded eggs hatch into altricial (helpless, from Latin altrix, “nourisher”) nestlings. All nestlings impart bright and dark impressions, with black-gray down, orange-red skin, pink mouths and, where lower and upper jaws intercept beak bases, white-yellow gape flanges.

Dark-eyed juncos journey through the monthly pages of the 2022 Audubon calendar as December birds, as which in real life they jubilate with wintertime backyard-feeder birds.

The nestling stage in 11-year lifespans kindles co-parental feeding of regurgitated food and then of direct food, open eyes as five-year-olds and feathery growth as seven-day-olds.

Nestling dark-eyed juncos leave their nests as 10- to 13-day-olds even as they look to limited care lent them by their parents for another three weeks. They manifest physical and sexual maturity as one-year-olds even as they mingle with family and flock members at meal times on berries, insects, seeds and spiders. Physical maturity nets 6- to 6.75-inch (15- to 17-centimeter) body lengths, 8- to 10-inch (20- to 26-centimeter) wingspans and 5/8- to 1-1/16-ounce (18- to 30-gram) weights.

The 2022 Audubon calendar offers as December birds dark-eyed juncos that in real-life North America organize into brown-backed, gray-headed, pink-sided, red-backed, slate-colored and white-winged subspecies groups.

Dark-eyed juncos perform direct, low, undercover flights and predominantly present dark eyes, pink bills, brown- to slate-gray upperparts, gray breasts, white abdomens and white outer-tail feathers.

Eight brown-backed, one gray-headed and one pink-sided subspecies respectively queue from southeastern Alaska, Colorado and southwestern Canada into northern Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos, “United Mexican States”). One red-backed, one slate-colored and one white-winged subspecies respectively range from Arizona to New Mexico, Alaska to southeastern United States and South Dakota to New Mexico. Dark-eyed juncos, specified scientifically as Junco hyemalis (from Latin iuncus, “reed” and hyemālis, “wintry”), sound loud tick, soft dyew calls; and buzzy, rapid zzeet flight twitters.

Dark-eyed juncos, taxonomized by Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-Jan. 10, 1778), turn up as December birds on the 2022 Audubon calendar and where temperatures turn downward.

Approximate Range Map of Dark-Eyed Juncos; yellow -- summer-only range, blue -- winter-only range, green -- year-round; Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 02:05:48: Ken Thomas, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Swedish botanist, physician, taxonomist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-Jan. 10, 1778) accepted the common name snow-bird, from English artist and naturalist Mark Catesby (March 24, 1683-Dec. 23, 1749), for dark-eyed junco. He added snowbirds, under the scientific name Fringilla hyemalis (from Latin fringilla, "small [chaffinch, robin] bird" and hyemālis, "winter, wintry"), to his 10th edition of Systema Naturæ; John James Audubon, The Birds of America From Original Drawings (1827-1830), No. 3 Plate XIII: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snow_Bird_(Audubon).jpg; No copyright, via Cincinnati Public Library @ https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll33/ (main page); No copyright, via Cincinnati Public Library @ https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/digital/collection/p16998coll33/id/14/rec/15 (specific image URL)

Approximate Range Map of Dark-Eyed Juncos; yellow -- summer-only range, blue -- winter-only range, green -- year-round; Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 02:05:48: Ken Thomas, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dark-eyed_Junco-rangemap.png

For further information:

Baicich, Paul J.; and Colin J. O. Harrison. 2005. "Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis - Includes Slate-colored Junco, J. h. hyemalis, Gray-headed Junco, J. h. coniceps, and Oregon Junco, J. h. oreganus)." Page 308. Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. Second edition. Princeton NJ; and Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England: Princeton University Press.

Bull, John; and John Farrand, Jr. 1997. "Dark-eyed Junco including "Slate-colored Junco," "White-winged Junco," and "Oregon Junco" Junco hyemalis." Pages 722-723. In: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region. Revised by John Farrand, Jr. Second edition. A Chanticleer Press Edition. New York NY: Borzoi Book, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.; and Toronto [Ontario, Canada]: Random House of Canada Limited.

Burton, Robert. "Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis." Page 128. In: The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens. San Diego CA: National Audubon Society.

Catesby, Mark. "Passer Nivalis." Page 36. In: The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly, the Forest-Trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not hitherto deſcribed, or very incorrectly figured by Authors, Together with their Descriptions in Engliſh and French. To which are added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: With Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the whole, Is Prefixed a new and correct Map of the Countries Treated of. Vol. I. London, MDCCXXXI.
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40753224

"Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis." Pages 271-272. In: Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd edition. Volume 11, Birds IV, edited by Michael Hutchins, Jerome A. Jackson, Walter J. Bock and Donna Olendorf. Farmington Hills MI: Gale Group, 2002.

Harrison, Kit and George. 1986. "Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)." Page 343. In: Kenneth P. Able, Robert F. Cardillo, Peter G. Connors, Susan Roney Drennan, Kimball L. Garrett, George Harrison, Kit Harrison, Bette J. Schardien Jackson, Jerome A. Jackson, J. P. Myers, Roger Tory Peterson, [and] William E. Poole. Contributing Writers Jeff Kopachena, [and] Michael McKinley. The Birds Around Us. San Ramon CA: Ortho Books.

Howell, Catherine Herbert (Writer); and Mary B. Dickinson (Editor). 1999. "Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis." Pages 418-419. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Third Edition. Washington DC: National Geographic Society.

Kobasa, Paul A. (Editor-in-Chief). 2007. "Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)." Page 21. Birds of the United States and Canada. Third printing, November 2009. Chicago IL: World Book, Inc.

Linnæi, Caroli. "Aves Passeres. Fringilla hyemalis. 30." Page 183. In: Systema Naturæ Per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Holmiæ: Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii, 1758.
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727090

Mace, Alice E. (Editor). 1986. "Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)." Page 343. The Birds Around Us. Writers Kenneth P. Able, Robert F. Cardillo, Peter G. Connors, Susan Roney Drennan, Kimball L. Garrett, George Harrison, Kit Harrison, Bette J. Schardien Jackson, Jerome A. Jackson, J. P. Mers, Roger Tory Peterson and William E. Poole. Contributing Writers Jeff Kopachena and Michael McKinley. San Ramon CA: Orth Books.

Marriner, Derdriu. 26 November 2022. "Eared Grebes Are November Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/eared-grebes-are-november-birds-on-2022.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 1 October 2022. "Barred Owls Are October Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/10/barred-owls-are-october-birds-on-2022.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 September 2022. "Brown Pelicans Are September Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/09/brown-pelicans-are-september-birds-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 August 2022. "Allen’s Hummingbirds Are August Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/08/allens-hummingbirds-are-august-birds-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 30 July 2022. "Reddish Egrets Are July Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/07/reddish-egrets-are-july-birds-on-2022.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 4 June 2022. "American Oystercatchers Are June Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/06/american-oystercatchers-are-june-birds.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 5 May 2022. "Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks Are May Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/rose-breasted-grosbeaks-are-may-birds.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 April 2022. "Crested Caracaras Appear as April Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/04/crested-caracaras-appear-as-april-birds.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 March 2022. "Cerulean Warblers Are March Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/03/cerulean-warblers-are-march-birds-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 5 February 2022. "Northern Bobwhites Are February Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/02/northern-bobwhites-are-february-birds.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 1 January 2022. "Florida Scrub-Jays Are January Birds on the 2022 Audubon Calendar." Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/01/florida-scrub-jays-are-january-birds-on.html

Peterson, Roger Tory. 2010. "Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis." Pages 306-307. In: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America. With contributions from Michael Di Giorgio, Paul Lehman, Michael O'Brien and Jeffrey A. Gordon, Larry Rosche, [and] Bill Thompson. Sixth Edition. Boston MA; and New York NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Peterson, Roger Tory. 1947. "Slate-Colored Junco. Junco hyemalis." Page 174. In: A Field Guide to the Birds Giving Field Marks of all Species Found East of the Rockies. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Second Revised and Enlarged Edition. Boston MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Robbins, Charles S.; Bertel Bruun; and Herbert S. Zim. 2001. "Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis." Pages 334-335. In: Birds of North America. Revised by Jonathan P. Latimer and Karen Stray Nolting and James Coe. New York NY: St. Martin's Press.

Stokes, Donald and Lillian. 1996. "Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis." Page 430. In: Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Boston [MA]; New York [NY]; Toronto [Ontario, Canada]; and London [England UK]: Little, Brown and Company.

Udvardy, Miklos D. F. 1985. "Dark-eyed "Oregon: Junco Junco hyemalis." Pages 609-610. In: James A. MacMahon. Deserts. The Audubon Society Nature Guides. Chanticleer Press Edition. New York NY: Borzoi Book, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Udvardy, Miklos D. F. 1977. "Dark-eyed Junco including "Oregon Junco" and "Slate-colored Junco" and "White-winged Junco" (Junco hyemalis)." Pages 731-732. In: The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region. A Chanticleer Press Edition. New York NY: Borzoi Book, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.; and Toronto [Ontario, Canada]: Random House of Canada Limited.