- Junco phaeonotus
Identification
14cm. Conical bill with dark upper mandible, yellow eyes, dark lores, grey head and breast, rusty back, white outer tail feathers.
Distribution
Southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Taxonomy
There are five subspecies[1]:
- Mexican Junco, Junco phaeonotus phaeonotus - central Mexico
- Junco phaeonotus palliatus - northern Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico (this form sometimes included within the previous)
- Baird's Junco, Junco phaeonotus bairdi - Baja California Sur
- Chiapas Junco, Junco phaeonotus fulvescens - southeast Mexico.
- Guatemala Junco, Junco phaeonotus alticola group - southeast Mexico and Guatemala.
Baird's Junco has in the past been viewed as a full species; it differs significantly in song from the two nearest populations.
Habitat
High mountain areas.
Behaviour
It builds an open nest of dried grass. 3-5 pale grey or bluish-white eggs are laid and there are 2-3 broods a year. Incubation takes 15 days, and the young fledge 2 weeks later.
The diet includes seeds, berries and insects.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Yellow-eyed Junco
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Yellow-eyed Junco. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-eyed_Junco
