There’s nothing quite as inobtrusive as a Junco. A humble bird – and quite common across the United States and Canada. Geographically there is quite a range in color of the Junco. In Minnesota, I see the Dark-eyed Junco which is typically slate gray to tan with deep black eyes and flashes of white on the tail feathers. A sparrow-sized bird that is primarily a seed eater. Read on for a day in the life of a Junco – a junkin’ Junco! It’s not all cake and ice cream!
Junkin’ Juncos!
I refer to Juncos as “junkin’ Juncos” because they sort of trash the yard when scouring for food. The Juncos arrive and the debris goes flying! I have a good number of Juncos visiting the property throughout the year. They will gather in small flocks on the ground and do this little stomp/kick number as they look for food. Kicking ground litter out of the way. Pecking up seeds and food bits. Very comical to watch the Juncos when they get Junkin’!
The Basswood tree
There is a fallen Basswood in the pasture. Huge tree. Huge. And around it there is a growth of some type of seed producing plant. A veritable thicket of fine brush loaded with small seeds about the size of a mustard seed. I have found the Juncos are absolutely crazy about these seeds. As I walk by, dozens burst from the undergrowth and settle in the bramble a short distance away. They return immediately and continue with their feeding. I have intended to settle in near the Basswood – and will do so – to take some photos of their non-stop activity. Junkin’!
Enter the Sharp-shinned Hawk
Just when you thought everything was cool about being humble and low profile, a Sharp-shinned Hawk may spy you with an appetite. Unfortunately our little Juncos rest at the bottom of the food chain – along with Chickadees and other sparrow-sized birds. Life can be tricky when you are smaller than everything else around you! Especially with a Sharp-shinned prowling the neighborhood!
It has to be the most fascinating thing I have seen in a long while. A perilous matchup between a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Junco. I was standing by the bird feeder when “SWOOP!”. Ripping into the zone a Sharp-shinned comes bearing through on a strafing run of the bird feeder and the gathered guests. The Hawk targeted a Junco that was feeding on the ground below the feeder. The Junco jumped and veered to the side, narrowly escaping the deadly talons of the Hawk. Instinctively, the Junco knows that is a very bad place to wind up in the crushing talons of one of our smallest Hawks.
The battle rages for the junkin’ Junco
The Junco flew skyward but the Hawk was determined. In an acrobatic swirl of motion and dodges, the junkin’ Junco flew in tight, vertical circles – a natural for evasive maneuvers. The Sharp-shinned, doing his best to avoid being outmaneuvered by the nimble Junco maintained pursuit. Spiral after spiral the chase ensued. I so wish I had my camera to capture the moment but I was without. Additionally, I could have never kept up with the action. But what an action shot of birds in flight it would have been!
In a very impressive maneuver, the Junco appeared to gain momentum and as the Sharp-shinned straightened in for the kill, the little Junco blasted out of orbit and shot skyward to a distant oak. The Sharp-shinned lost sight of the Junco and ceased pursuit. The Junco, seeming to realize how close he was to death flitted nervously up above as the Hawk cut course through the Oaks on a route to buzz the backyard feeder. The Hawk was still hungry. The humble Junco may have become a bit more humble. Perhaps a little more caution the next time out junkin’!
Photography of the junkin’ Junco
Juncos are quite accommodating when it comes to being photographed. They and Chickadees seem to gather together and can be quite easy to get close to if one simply sits quietly near their feeding areas. The Junco featured in this article was especially calm and collected. I had no difficulty whatsoever snapping a couple photos. What I find is an ample telephoto lens helps immensely. Move in with your glass rather than with your feet. Try and catch them on the ground kicking up leaf litter – or snowflakes. It’s a hoot!
Closing comments
Have you heard about the amazing sale I’m running right now? You can read about it here. Or, you can go directly to my website, RedBarnProject, and check out the incredible savings. I wouldn’t dilly-dally, the sale could end at anytime! Get the savings while you can! Questions? Contact me! I would love to hear from you. I hope you take a moment to seek out a Junco today. They are adorable little birds. They don’t get a lot of press. I intend to change that in some small way with this post. As always, I wish for you Peace.
