When do juncos leave New Jersey?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left New Jersey by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.

When is the best time to see juncos in New Jersey?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 44% of New Jersey checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in New Jersey?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in New Jersey: the first arrive in early October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (44% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October

Common byOct 22-31late October

PeakDec 8-14the second week of December

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals early October; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 44% of New Jersey checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
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 New Jersey, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 1-7	Oct 22-31	Dec 8-14	Apr 8-14	44%

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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Somerset CountyBest the second week of December · 841 checklists that week, 58,057 in all63%
Passaic CountyBest the second week of November · 349 checklists that week, 24,933 in all63%
Camden CountyBest the second week of December · 337 checklists that week, 25,931 in all60%
Essex CountyBest mid December · 479 checklists that week, 28,396 in all59%
Union CountyBest the second week of December · 278 checklists that week, 23,647 in all59%
Hunterdon CountyBest the second week of December · 988 checklists that week, 57,610 in all59%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in New Jersey?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in New Jersey: the first arrive in early October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (44% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave New Jersey?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left New Jersey by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.
When is the best time to see juncos in New Jersey?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 44% of New Jersey checklists.