When do juncos leave Ohio?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Ohio 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 Ohio?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 36% of Ohio checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Ohio?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Ohio: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of December (36% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October

Common byOct 15-21mid 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 36% of Ohio checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Mayrare
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Seprare
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Ohio, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	Dec 8-14	Apr 8-14	36%

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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Meigs CountyBest the second week of January · 76 checklists that week, 1,139 in all73%
Monroe CountyBest the second week of December · 18 checklists that week, 1,141 in all70%
Marion CountyBest late November · 161 checklists that week, 14,246 in all69%
Henry CountyBest early December · 12 checklists that week, 1,217 in all68%
Van Wert CountyBest mid January · 26 checklists that week, 2,246 in all66%
Coshocton CountyBest the second week of December · 39 checklists that week, 2,932 in all65%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Ohio?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Ohio: the first arrive in early October, they are common by mid October, peak in the second week of December (36% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Ohio?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Ohio 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 Ohio?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 36% of Ohio checklists.