WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Minnesota: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by early October, peak in late October (47% of checklists), and most are gone by late April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 15-21mid September
Common byOct 1-7early October
PeakOct 22-31late October
Most gone byApr 22-30late April

Best: late October. First arrivals mid September; most are gone by late April. Peak: on about 47% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Juncos in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoSep 15-21Oct 1-7Oct 22-31Apr 22-3047%
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Red Lake CountyBest mid October · 11 checklists that week, 1,028 in all79%
  2. Todd CountyBest late October · 118 checklists that week, 4,802 in all78%
  3. Stevens CountyBest mid January · 15 checklists that week, 2,839 in all75%
  4. Le Sueur CountyBest late January · 74 checklists that week, 5,034 in all74%
  5. Benton CountyBest mid October · 123 checklists that week, 6,111 in all72%
  6. Wabasha CountyBest the second week of February · 116 checklists that week, 6,548 in all70%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Minnesota?
Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Minnesota: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by early October, peak in late October (47% of checklists), and most are gone by late April.
When do juncos leave Minnesota?
Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Minnesota by late 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 Minnesota?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late October, on about 47% of Minnesota checklists.