The many shades of junco

Dark-eyed Juncos can be found almost everywhere in the continental US (at least in winter).  When these birds show up in fall it is a sign that winter is around the corner.  And I have to admit, while I like juncos I'm always a little disappointed to find my first one in the fall.  As a person who dreads the cold temperatures and frozen landscape of winter, these little birds tell me it's time to get out the warm clothes and bundle up (I get cold when temperatures go below 60F, so from November to April each year I'm a human popsicle).

Friday at Walnut Woods I was able to get a photo of a few plumage variations in juncos.  However, when identifying juncos always look for a white belly, pinkish beak, and a white edge on both sides of their tail (best seen when they're flying).

 This brown version of the slate-colored race has almost no white on her belly.

 Both of these (above and below) show the more traditional plumage of the slate-colored race.

Even though their arrival means winter is coming, I find it hard to hold a grudge against these pint-sized little birds.  They're just so fun to watch and I love their twittering "kew" call (listen to it on Cornell's All about Birds site: scroll down to the last one, "Kew calls (slate-colored race)").