From Opus

Photo by Michael W
Photo taken: Sawmill Canyon, Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Junco phaeonotus

[edit] Identification

14cm. Conical bill with dark upper mandible, yellow eyes, dark lores, grey head and breast, rusty back, white outer tail feathers.

[edit] Distribution

Southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala.

[edit] Taxonomy

There are five subspecies^[1]:

• Mexican Junco, Junco phaeonotus phaeonotus - central Mexico
• Junco phaeonotus palliatus - northern Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico (this form sometimes included within the previous)
• Baird's Junco, Junco phaeonotus bairdi - Baja California Sur
• Chiapas Junco, Junco phaeonotus fulvescens - southeast Mexico.
• Guatemala Junco, Junco phaeonotus alticola group - southeast Mexico and Guatemala.

Baird's Junco has in the past been viewed as a full species; it differs significantly in song from the two nearest populations.

[edit] Habitat

High mountain areas.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds an open nest of dried grass. 3-5 pale grey or bluish-white eggs are laid and there are 2-3 broods a year. Incubation takes 15 days, and the young fledge 2 weeks later.

The diet includes seeds, berries and insects.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Yellow-eyed Junco

• List of references

[edit] External Links