WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Kansas?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Kansas: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in early December (58% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October
Common byOct 22-31late October
PeakDec 1-7early December
Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: early December. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 58% of Kansas 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. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoOct 8-14Oct 22-31Dec 1-7Apr 1-758%
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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Cloud CountyBest early January · 12 checklists that week, 586 in all88%
  2. Ottawa CountyBest the second week of January · 11 checklists that week, 523 in all86%
  3. Cherokee CountyBest late February · 43 checklists that week, 1,859 in all79%
  4. Saline CountyBest early December · 32 checklists that week, 2,642 in all79%
  5. Kingman CountyBest mid November · 34 checklists that week, 1,697 in all76%
  6. Jackson CountyBest the second week of December · 38 checklists that week, 2,012 in all75%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Kansas?
Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Kansas: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in early December (58% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.
When do juncos leave Kansas?
Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Kansas by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Kansas?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in early December, on about 58% of Kansas checklists.