Common Nesting Birds

meet your neighbors

Change Species:

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Photo © Bill Thompson

Dark-eyed Junco eggs

Photo © René Corado

Dark-eyed Junco nest

Photo © René Corado

Adult male (Slate-colored)

Photo © Scott Martin / Macaulay Library

Adult male (Oregon)

Photo © sam hough / Macaulay Library

Adult male (Pink-sided)

Photo © 🦉Max Malmquist🦉 / Macaulay Library

Adult (Red-backed)

Photo © Heather Pickard / Macaulay Library

Adult (Gray-headed)

Photo © Chris Wood / Macaulay Library

Adult male (White-winged)

Photo © Bradley Hacker 🦜 / Macaulay Library

Adult male (cismontanus)

Photo © Brad Heath / Macaulay Library

Female/immature (Slate-colored)

Photo © Daniel Irons / Macaulay Library

Juvenile (Slate-colored)

Photo © Yves Darveau / Macaulay Library

Adult male (Slate-colored)

Photo © Ryan Schain / Macaulay Library

Adult (Slate-colored)

Photo © Andree Dubreuil / Macaulay Library

Female/immature (Oregon)

Photo © Robert Hamilton / Macaulay Library

Song (Slate-colored)

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Song (Slate-colored)

© Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library

Song (Slate-colored)

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Song (Slate-colored)

© Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library

Song (Oregon)

© Dave Slager / Macaulay Library

Song (Oregon)

© Thomas G. Sander / Macaulay Library

Song (Oregon)

© Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library

Song (Oregon)

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Song (Pink-sided)

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Song (Pink-sided)

© Mark Robbins / Macaulay Library

Song (Pink-sided)

© Mark Robbins / Macaulay Library

Song (White-winged)

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Song (White-winged)

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Song (White-winged)

© Randolph Little / Macaulay Library

Song (Gray-headed)

© Chris Wood / Macaulay Library

Song (Gray-headed)

© Gregory Budney / Macaulay Library

Song (Gray-headed)

© Chris Wood / Macaulay Library

Song (Red-backed)

© Rose Ann Rowlett / Macaulay Library

Song (Red-backed)

© Rose Ann Rowlett / Macaulay Library

Song (Red-backed)

© Mark Robbins / Macaulay Library

Complex song

© Brad Walker / Macaulay Library

Complex song

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Brad Walker / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Brad Walker / Macaulay Library

Calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Juvenile calls

© Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

When To Look

Source: Birds of the World

Where To Find It

Source: Birds of the World

Habitats

forest

mountain

Substrates

ground

Live Tree Branch

In/On Building

What You'll Find

Nest Type

cup

Chick

Altricial

Clutch Size

3
6

Nest Height

5 ft
0 ft

Nesting Statistics

Incubation Period

12-13
days

Brooding Period

10-13
days

Useful Hints

  • It’s rare for a junco to reuse a nest.
  • Female juncos choose their nest site, most commonly on the ground near a protruding rock or roots for cover.
  • Occasionally juncos nest near human-made structures like window sills, beams, or hanging plants.

More Resources

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology