When do juncos leave Massachusetts?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Massachusetts by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early May.

When is the best time to see juncos in Massachusetts?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 40% of Massachusetts checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Massachusetts?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Massachusetts: the first arrive in late September, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of December (40% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common byOct 15-21mid October

PeakDec 8-14the second week of December

Most gone byApr 15-21mid April

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals late September; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 40% of Massachusetts checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
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 Massachusetts, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Sep 22-30	Oct 15-21	Dec 8-14	Apr 15-21	40%

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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Hampshire CountyBest early December · 2430 checklists that week, 162,423 in all59%
Middlesex CountyBest late November · 6763 checklists that week, 307,511 in all55%
Worcester CountyBest late November · 2585 checklists that week, 128,594 in all54%
Norfolk CountyBest the second week of December · 1817 checklists that week, 114,756 in all53%
Franklin CountyBest late November · 780 checklists that week, 41,382 in all52%
Hampden CountyBest the second week of February · 607 checklists that week, 35,410 in all49%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Massachusetts?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Massachusetts: the first arrive in late September, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of December (40% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When do juncos leave Massachusetts?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Massachusetts by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early May.
When is the best time to see juncos in Massachusetts?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 40% of Massachusetts checklists.