WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Mississippi?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October
Common byNov 8-14the second week of November
PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February
Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals late October; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 18% of Mississippi checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maynot usually seen
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octrare
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Mississippi, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoOct 22-31Nov 8-14Feb 8-14Mar 15-2118%
0%10%20%30%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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Union CountyBest late January · 13 checklists that week, 508 in all75%
  2. DeSoto CountyBest the second week of February · 107 checklists that week, 5,093 in all74%
  3. Lafayette CountyBest the second week of January · 76 checklists that week, 4,770 in all61%
  4. Alcorn CountyBest mid February · 16 checklists that week, 330 in all58%
  5. Itawamba CountyBest late January · 23 checklists that week, 648 in all58%
  6. Tishomingo CountyBest mid January · 108 checklists that week, 4,558 in all55%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Mississippi?
Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (18% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.
When do juncos leave Mississippi?
Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Mississippi by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Mississippi?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 18% of Mississippi checklists.