There are about 15 different Dark-eyed Junco subspecies in North America and I have had 5 subspecies in my yard, which is located SW of Reno NV. The most common Junco, in my area, are the Oregon subspecies and they are more common in the winter but being altitudinal migrants here you can find them breeding above 6000ft. This Oregon Junco was found in the Peavine Mt area, which is located NW of Reno. The Oregon junco breeds in forests from southern Alaska to Baja California and western Nevada. The head of the adult male usually has a black to medium gray hood, reddish brown back and flanks, and pinkish bill. The female usually have a gray hood.

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon male (Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]) - Peavine Peak, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 5-6-2021 at 10:08
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO800, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade

The Slate-colored Junco shows up in late Fall and hangs around until early Spring. The male has a gray hood, flanks, and back with white breast and belly. The female has the gray hood but there can be brown in the flanks and back. They are the Junco in the NE US, along the boreal forest of Canada, and into Alaska.

Dark-eyed Junco, Slate-colored male (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis) - Mont Pelier, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D500, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 with 1.6 TC Taken: 1-5-2023 at 10:34
Settings: 750mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/6.3, ISO100, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast

The Cassair Junco is simalar to a Slate-colored Junco and is found in the Rocky Mountains but can also be seen in NW Nevada and throughout the mid-section of the US and along the west up into Alaska. Current thought is the Cassair Junco is a hybrid of the Slate-colored and Oregon Junco and it is not considered a Junco subspecies. The best field mark for a male is a black hood similar to an male Oregon and the gray flanks and back of a Slate-colored. The females are more difficult to identify.

Dark-eyed Junco, Cassiar (Junco hyemalis cismontanus) - Mont Pelier, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D500, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 with 1.6 TC Taken: 12-16-2022 at 8:25
Settings: 750mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/4.8, ISO220, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast

I have seen Pink-sided Juncos in the Reno/Washoe Valley area over the years and they seem to be increasing in numbers in the winter. They breed in the higher elevation forests of the northern Rocky Mountains, from southern Alberta to eastern Idaho and western Wyoming. They can be found in the west and mid-west from Canada to Mexico. Good field markings are a blue-gray hood with dark lores and pinkish flanks. I had a nice one show up a couple days ago and I was able to photograph the bird over almost a week in late April 2023.

Dark-eyed Junco, Pink-sided (Junco hyemalis mearnsi) - Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 12-10-2019 at 9:25
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO2000, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny/shade

The Gray-headed Junco breeds in NE Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado and winters in southern Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. I was surprised to see one show up in my yard on May 2, 2023. At first, I thought it was the Pink-sided but I followed it around the yard until I got lucky with sun within a snow shower and being able to get within 20ft of the bird for some great photos. The field markings that are very noticeable are the the red back, mostly blue gray hood, breast, and flanks, and dark lores. I first saw one in Dec 2019 in the Madera Canyon, AZ, which is south of Tuscon.

Dark-eyed Junco, Gray-headed (Junco hyemalis caniceps) - Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 12-10-2019 at 8:45
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/4, ISO2000, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade

I also saw a Red-backed Junco in the Madera Canyon on the same Arizona trip. The best field marking is a bi-colored bill with a darker upper mandible and a light lower compared to the pinkish bill of the Gray-headed Junco. It can be found along the New Mexico, Arizona and Mexican borders in the higher mountains.

Dark-eyed Junco, Red-backed (Junco hyemalis dorsalis) - Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 12-20-2019 at 8:30
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO2000, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade

The Yellow-eye Junco can be found primarily in Mexico but its range extends into some of the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. I saw them in the Madera Canyon of AZ and it is similar the the Red-backed and Gray-headed Juncos with the exception of a very noticeable yellow eye.

Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus) - Madera Canyon, SCZ (AZ)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 12-20-2019 at 9:20
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO720, +1/3EV, Conditions: shade

The Juncos appeared around 10,000 to 13,000 years ago and moved north as North American glaciers retreated. Ancestral juncos (most likely Yellow-eyed Juncos or relatives) spread across North America and recent DNA analysis has determined that all the subspecies are related. As the Juncos spread out some groups became isolated enough to evolve new coloration as can be seen in the 7 species I have been able to photograph.

Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.

Dark-eyed Juncos

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