When do juncos leave District of Columbia?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left District of Columbia by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.

When is the best time to see juncos in District of Columbia?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of District of Columbia checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in District of Columbia?

Photo: Jimmy Dee, CC BY-SA 4.0 via iNaturalist

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in District of Columbia: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October

Common byOct 15-21mid October

PeakMar 22-31late March

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: late March. First arrivals early October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 34% of District of Columbia checklists.

Janpeak season
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maynot usually seen
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepnot usually seen
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in District of Columbia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	Mar 22-31	Apr 8-14	34%

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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

District of Columbia CountyBest late March · 3895 checklists that week, 121,721 in all34%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in District of Columbia?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in District of Columbia: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in late March (34% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave District of Columbia?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left District of Columbia by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.
When is the best time to see juncos in District of Columbia?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late March, on about 34% of District of Columbia checklists.