WhenToBird

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Montana?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are in Montana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (25% of checklists), and fall back by mid April. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 7.3% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildFeb 22-28late February
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byApr 15-21mid April
FewestAug 15-21mid August

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from late February and fall back by mid April. Peak: on about 25% of Montana checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Juncos in Montana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Dark-eyed JuncoFeb 22-28Feb 22-28Mar 22-31Apr 15-2125%
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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Jefferson CountyBest the second week of April · 308 checklists that week, 14,859 in all54%
  2. Richland CountyBest early October · 11 checklists that week, 673 in all52%
  3. Meagher CountyBest early April · 10 checklists that week, 1,201 in all51%
  4. Valley CountyBest early February · 24 checklists that week, 3,392 in all49%
  5. Lincoln CountyBest early April · 126 checklists that week, 5,543 in all48%
  6. Sanders CountyBest early November · 56 checklists that week, 3,767 in all48%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Montana?
Dark-eyed Juncos are in Montana all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from late February, peak in late March (25% of checklists), and fall back by mid April. In the quietest week (mid August) they are still on about 7.3% of checklists.
When do juncos leave Montana?
Dark-eyed Juncos never fully leave Montana: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid April, but some are still reported in every week, about 7.3% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see juncos in Montana?
The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late March, on about 25% of Montana checklists.