When do juncos leave Michigan?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Michigan 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 Michigan?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 43% of Michigan checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Michigan?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Michigan: the first arrive in late September, they are common by the second week of October, peak in the second week of February (43% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common byOct 8-14the second week of October

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Most gone byApr 15-21mid April

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals late September; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 43% of Michigan checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Mayuncommon
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepuncommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	Feb 8-14	Apr 15-21	43%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Ontonagon CountyBest mid April · 44 checklists that week, 3,548 in all72%
Osceola CountyBest the second week of December · 85 checklists that week, 5,623 in all71%
Newaygo CountyBest the second week of February · 98 checklists that week, 5,044 in all68%
Shiawassee CountyBest early February · 31 checklists that week, 3,113 in all68%
Barry CountyBest early December · 407 checklists that week, 29,465 in all68%
Ogemaw CountyBest early December · 51 checklists that week, 4,675 in all67%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Michigan?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Michigan: the first arrive in late September, they are common by the second week of October, peak in the second week of February (43% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When do juncos leave Michigan?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Michigan 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 Michigan?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 43% of Michigan checklists.