When do juncos leave Maryland?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Maryland by the second week of 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 Maryland?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 45% of Maryland checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Maryland?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Maryland: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (45% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October

Common byOct 22-31late October

PeakDec 8-14the second week of December

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 45% of Maryland checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
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 Maryland, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 8-14	Oct 22-31	Dec 8-14	Apr 8-14	45%

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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Charles CountyBest early December · 128 checklists that week, 10,064 in all64%
Allegany CountyBest late November · 347 checklists that week, 18,322 in all56%
Washington CountyBest early December · 267 checklists that week, 24,020 in all56%
Carroll CountyBest the second week of February · 568 checklists that week, 26,728 in all56%
Talbot CountyBest early December · 417 checklists that week, 31,140 in all53%
Queen Anne's CountyBest the second week of December · 448 checklists that week, 26,875 in all53%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Maryland?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Maryland: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (45% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Maryland?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Maryland by the second week of 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 Maryland?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 45% of Maryland checklists.