When do juncos leave Illinois?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Illinois 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 Illinois?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 52% of Illinois checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Illinois?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Illinois: the first arrive in late September, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of November (52% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common byOct 15-21mid October

PeakNov 8-14the second week of November

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals late September; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 52% of Illinois checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Mayrare
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Seprare
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Illinois, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Sep 22-30	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	Apr 8-14	52%

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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Monroe CountyBest mid January · 40 checklists that week, 2,547 in all84%
Bureau CountyBest the second week of January · 138 checklists that week, 10,244 in all83%
Edwards CountyBest late November · 16 checklists that week, 797 in all83%
Mercer CountyBest mid January · 12 checklists that week, 949 in all81%
Pope CountyBest the second week of January · 10 checklists that week, 1,310 in all78%
Knox CountyBest the second week of January · 92 checklists that week, 6,781 in all78%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Illinois?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Illinois: the first arrive in late September, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of November (52% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Illinois?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Illinois 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 Illinois?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 52% of Illinois checklists.