The dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis, is a lovely little bird. This species is another that manages to thrive in the Wyoming winter. They can be very commonly seen hopping around on the forest floor in this part of the country, and they occasionally show up in town, too. This picture was taken in my backyard last April.
Allaboutbirds.org explains the "huge range of geographic variation in the dark-eyed junco. Among the 15 described races, six forms are easily recognizable in the field and five used to be considered separate species until the 1980s." The above bird is the 'pink-sided' (mearnsi) variety of the Rocky Mountains and western plains, which is the race that stays here for the winter. I am also fond of the brown-hooded 'Oregon' race of junco (oreganus), which I have only seen in the Pacific Northwest. Here's a picture of a cute little Oregon junco taken in Eugene, Oregon back when my camera didn't have much zoom power. You can just barely make out his dark hood.
The third variety that I am familiar with is the gray-headed race (caniceps). In the photo below, which was taken last July near the Continental Divide in Northern Colorado, you can make out his gray head as well as the orange patch on his back. This variety, according to wbu.com, nests above 7000 feet between March and August, but spends the rest of the year in the southwest. He is a snowbird!
The best way to distinguish this bird as a junco, regardless of variety, is by its white outer tail feathers that flash in flight. But after getting to know this species, one starts to recognize its round little body and pinkish bill as well. These birds are often friendly companions to a hike in the woods.
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