Thelma Dalmas: 'Snowbird' is really a junco

Over the past few weeks, I’ve received a number of questions about “snowbirds,” and the callers often wanted to know why they couldn’t seem to find this species listed in any of the field guides. The problem is that, although locally known as a snowbird, the name is actually dark-eyed junco. In fact, this little bird has gone through a number of name changes as ornithologists fine-tuned the process of classification.

In the early 1970s, when I first became seriously interested in birds, there were five separate species of juncos. The Oregon, gray-headed, white winged and Mexican juncos were found in western North America and here in the east, we had a slate-colored junco.

Subsequent research revealed that most of these birds were simply geographic variations and eventually all of those juncos with dark eyes were unified into one group and renamed.

The birds likely to be found here are fairly distinctive, with a gray back, head and upper breast, set off sharply from the white belly. The outer tail feathers are also white and the birds often flash them as they take flight or squabble with one another. Some individuals may have a pink or rusty colored tinge along the sides and show brown across the upper back.

In Virginia, most of us only see juncos during the winter months. However, they do breed at higher elevations and if you visit the Peaks of Otter in mid June, you will see them scurrying around the underbrush as they search for food to satisfy their hungry babies.

The junco is actually a type of sparrow, and although they don’t look like most of their brownish relatives, they do exhibit the same general kind of behavior. Juncos prefer to feed on the ground, and during the winter, spend much of their time foraging for seeds. At feeders, they like milo and millet but will readily eat sunflower seed, especially if it is already shelled. They are also fond of weed seeds, so when I see them in the yard, I know that this spring I’ll find less chickweed, smartweed and ragweed.

By mid March, you will hear the juncos begin to “tune-up” as they practice their songs for the breeding season. They have a very fast musical trill, somewhat similar to that of the pine warbler, but delivered with more emphasis. By the end of March, most of our juncos will have left to establish nesting territories, but a few will linger through mid April.

News and notes

- In spite of the fact that we still have a lot of snow cover at our house, I know that spring is on the way. Down by the creek, a few patches of skunk flower have managed to push up through the frosty ground. It is one of our earliest blooming wildflowers and even though it doesn’t have a nice fragrance, it does impart a sweet message that winter is loosening its grip.

- The Lynchburg Bird Club will hold a field trip to Highland County Feb. 27. Often called “Virginia’s Little Switzerland,” this high-elevation site provides prime habitat to look for some of our more uncommon species, including golden eagle and rough-legged hawk. If you would like to attend, call the field trip chairman at (434) 298-7773 for details.