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Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
At-a-Glance
• Peak Breeding Activity: spring-early summer
• Incubation: 12-13 days
• Clutch Size: 3-6 eggs
• Young Fledge: 9-13 days after hatching
• Typical Foods: seeds and insects
• Ohio Status: Species of Special Interest
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Description
This species is slate-gray in color on its head, breast, and back. This color contrasts sharply with the white belly and outer tail feathers.
Habitat and Habits
The junco's status as a nester in Ohio is rare; they are largely confined to hemlock gorges in the extreme northeastern corner of the state. Junco numbers swell during the peak of spring migration in March and April, and at this time it is very common to hear the males singing.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Nests are built in a slight depression in the ground, usually near the edge of woody areas or in a place where it is protected by something, such as a rock or log. Dark-eyed junco nests are lined with grasses or hair. The female incubates the eggs, but both parents tend to the young. |
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