Question about a Dark-eyed Junco (1 Viewer)

N

Nezvanova

monkapotamus

• Mar 30, 2004

• #1

Over the weekend I saw what at first glance I thought might be a chubby little mockingbird, but then realized was a Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored). Except this little guy had white bars on his wings!

I found some pics of what are called White-winged Juncos, and besides the near impossibility of one of these little guys turning up in Philadelphia, the Junco I saw had a much smaller bill than the White-winged's have.

Has anyone else ever seen a slate-colored Junco with wing bars? Is this fairly common?

Thanks,
Amy

 

Warbler

Warbler Watcher

• Mar 30, 2004

• #2

I saw the same thing in South Dakota just last week. This plate should answer your question.

 

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  Slate-colored Junco variant.jpg

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Grousemore

Senior Member

• Mar 30, 2004

• #3

Warbler's image comes from the Sibley guide to birds,page 501.
I'm not sure if we're allowed to post excerpts on this Forum(copyright)so I'll check with Admin.

 

B

Bluetail

Senior Moment

• Mar 30, 2004

• #4

What are the chances of White-winged and Slate-coloured being split? Actually, I'm sure there's been a thread on this somtime tecently - I'll go and look it out.

Jason

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Mar 30, 2004

• #5

Hi Jason,

All the Juncos used to be split, but they desplit them all a while back. I suppose they may yet reverse that, like they did with Baltimore & Bullock's Orioles to Northern Oriole, and then back again later. But they seem to have higher priorities than Juncos.

Michael

 

N

Nezvanova

monkapotamus

• Mar 30, 2004

• #6

Hey, thanks Warbler, that's exactly what he looked like!

 

S

streatham

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2004

• #7

as i recall 'white-winged' de junco is usually found from south dakota south to colorado. i would think seeing the white-winged on the east coast is a fairly rare occurence - probably need some more experienced north east coast birders to give you the answer on that one though - i know if an 'oregon' shows up here in ct it at least gets onto the local rare bird alert. luke

 

oldsquaw

Old Tooter

• Mar 31, 2004

• #8

True white-wingeds have three outer tail feathers that are white, other junco only have two. White-winged are a lighter gray than Slate-colored. I seen many of both species in winter here in So. Colorado. I'm not sure of any recored east of the Blackhills, but who knows. I've always believed them as different species from the other junco. Van