When do juncos leave Pennsylvania?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 50% of Pennsylvania checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Pennsylvania?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Pennsylvania: the first arrive in early October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (50% 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 50% of Pennsylvania checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Mayrare
Junrare
Julrare
Augnot usually seen
Seprare
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Pennsylvania, 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	50%

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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Bedford CountyBest mid January · 164 checklists that week, 11,483 in all80%
Jefferson CountyBest late January · 109 checklists that week, 5,956 in all79%
Lackawanna CountyBest late January · 466 checklists that week, 22,569 in all73%
Cameron CountyBest mid January · 64 checklists that week, 5,057 in all73%
Elk CountyBest mid November · 78 checklists that week, 6,751 in all73%
Juniata CountyBest early December · 107 checklists that week, 9,807 in all72%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Pennsylvania?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Pennsylvania: the first arrive in early October, they are common by late October, peak in the second week of December (50% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Pennsylvania?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 50% of Pennsylvania checklists.