WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Iowa?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Iowa: the first arrive in early October, they are common by the second week of October, peak in early November (51% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October
Common byOct 8-14the second week of October
PeakNov 1-7early November
Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: early November. First arrivals early October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 51% of Iowa checklists.

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

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

Juncos in Iowa, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoOct 1-7Oct 8-14Nov 1-7Apr 8-1451%
0%20%40%60%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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Howard CountyBest the second week of November · 12 checklists that week, 334 in all87%
  2. Warren CountyBest the second week of January · 14 checklists that week, 1,278 in all86%
  3. Lucas CountyBest mid January · 37 checklists that week, 2,217 in all83%
  4. Jefferson CountyBest the second week of January · 71 checklists that week, 4,772 in all82%
  5. Madison CountyBest early February · 29 checklists that week, 2,941 in all82%
  6. Monona CountyBest early November · 11 checklists that week, 655 in all81%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Iowa?
Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Iowa: the first arrive in early October, they are common by the second week of October, peak in early November (51% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Iowa?
Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Iowa 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 Iowa?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in early November, on about 51% of Iowa checklists.