When do juncos leave Missouri?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Missouri by early 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 Missouri?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 60% of Missouri checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Missouri?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Missouri: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of February (60% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October

Common byOct 22-31late October

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 60% of Missouri 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 Missouri, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 8-14	Oct 22-31	Feb 8-14	Apr 1-7	60%

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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Osage CountyBest mid February · 31 checklists that week, 414 in all92%
Worth CountyBest mid November · 10 checklists that week, 235 in all91%
Iron CountyBest mid December · 67 checklists that week, 4,515 in all91%
Clark CountyBest mid February · 10 checklists that week, 302 in all90%
Moniteau CountyBest late January · 14 checklists that week, 614 in all89%
Daviess CountyBest mid November · 22 checklists that week, 1,354 in all89%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Missouri?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Missouri: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of February (60% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.
When do juncos leave Missouri?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Missouri by early 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 Missouri?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 60% of Missouri checklists.