When do juncos leave Oklahoma?

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

When is the best time to see juncos in Oklahoma?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 48% of Oklahoma checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Oklahoma?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Oklahoma: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of February (48% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.

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 byMar 22-31late March

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 48% of Oklahoma checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Apruncommon
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 Oklahoma, 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	Mar 22-31	48%

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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Adair CountyBest mid February · 17 checklists that week, 616 in all81%
Logan CountyBest late January · 139 checklists that week, 5,258 in all78%
Seminole CountyBest mid February · 17 checklists that week, 304 in all78%
Choctaw CountyBest late February · 14 checklists that week, 844 in all75%
Pittsburg CountyBest late December · 15 checklists that week, 603 in all74%
Bryan CountyBest the second week of December · 17 checklists that week, 1,517 in all71%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Oklahoma?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Oklahoma: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of February (48% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When do juncos leave Oklahoma?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Oklahoma by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Oklahoma?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 48% of Oklahoma checklists.