The Dark Eyed Junco species is made up of six recognizable populations: Slate Colored, Oregon, Pink Sided, White Winged, Slate Colored Variant, and Canadian Rocky Mountains. There are variants within each of these that make the Junco a challenge to identify the population. The populations usually separate out in the summer, but in the winter several populations may be seen in the same flock. Juncos are small, slender and cleanly marked, differing mainly in color and contrast of head and body plumage.

This male Slate-Colored Junco was photographed in Muskego, Wisconsin

This male Slate-Colored Junco was photographed in Muskego, Wisconsin

This female Slate-Colored Junco photo was taken in the fall of 2009 in Muskego, WI

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Dark Eyed Junco

The Slate-Colored Junco is gray with a darker gray hood, a white under body and outer tail feathers, whitish bill, dark pinkish legs. It has a range in cool forests of Alaska, Canada, and most of United States. It has a habitat of Conifers and mixed woods, undergrowth, roadsides, and brush. It feeds mostly on seeds, berries, and insects.

I have seen the Slated-Colored Junco at all the places that I have birded, and it is fairly common to see. It has a habitat in conifer and mixed woods, open woods, undergrowth, brush and feeders. It is fairly easy to photograph.

 

 

This appears to be a male Oregon Junco that was photographed in Muskego, Wisconsin

This appears to be a male Slate-Colored Brown Variant Junco that was photographed 1/11/2015 in Muskego, Wisconsin

This appears to be a female Slate-Colored Brown Variant Junco photographed 1/11/2015 in Muskego, Wisconsin

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Slate-Colored Brown Variant

The male Slate-Colored Brown Variant Junco has a red-brown back, darker near black hood, buffy or rusty sides, and a white breast. The bill and legs are pink. The female Slate-Colored Brown Variant Junco is similar to the male but has a grayer or dark brown head, gray chest, and white breast. The sides are more sharply defined with pink, orange, or tawny coloring. The bill and legs are pink. The habitat, range, and diet are the same as listed above.