WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Alabama?

Adult male Dark-eyed Junco
Photo: Jimmy Dee, CC BY-SA 4.0 via iNaturalist

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Alabama: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in mid February (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October
Common byNov 8-14the second week of November
PeakFeb 15-21mid February
Most gone byMar 22-31late March

Best: mid February. First arrivals late October; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 16% of Alabama checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Juncos in Alabama, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoOct 22-31Nov 8-14Feb 15-21Mar 22-3116%
0%5%10%15%20%Dark-eyed JuncoJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Dark-eyed Junco
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alabama that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alabama

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Franklin CountyBest the second week of February · 24 checklists that week, 1,003 in all53%
  2. DeKalb CountyBest the second week of January · 14 checklists that week, 1,273 in all53%
  3. Winston CountyBest the second week of January · 17 checklists that week, 892 in all50%
  4. Cleburne CountyBest mid November · 15 checklists that week, 1,108 in all49%
  5. Lauderdale CountyBest the second week of December · 144 checklists that week, 7,924 in all48%
  6. Marion CountyBest mid December · 21 checklists that week, 607 in all47%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Alabama?
Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Alabama: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in mid February (16% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When do juncos leave Alabama?
Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Alabama by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Alabama?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in mid February, on about 16% of Alabama checklists.