When do juncos leave Rhode Island?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late November, on about 30% of Rhode Island checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Rhode Island?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Rhode Island: the first arrive in late September, they are common by the second week of October, peak in late November (30% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common byOct 8-14the second week of October

PeakNov 22-30late November

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: late November. First arrivals late September; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 30% of Rhode Island checklists.

Jancommon
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Mayrare
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Seprare
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Rhode Island, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	Nov 22-30	Apr 8-14	30%

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Providence CountyBest late November · 798 checklists that week, 40,898 in all52%
Kent CountyBest the second week of November · 262 checklists that week, 16,966 in all46%
Washington CountyBest mid November · 1236 checklists that week, 65,038 in all26%
Bristol CountyBest the second week of December · 232 checklists that week, 15,899 in all23%
Newport CountyBest late October · 752 checklists that week, 33,574 in all17%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Rhode Island?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Rhode Island: the first arrive in late September, they are common by the second week of October, peak in late November (30% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April.
When do juncos leave Rhode Island?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in late November, on about 30% of Rhode Island checklists.