When do juncos leave South Carolina?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left South Carolina 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 South Carolina?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in South Carolina?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (11% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 22-31late October

Common byNov 8-14the second week of November

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Most gone byMar 22-31late March

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals late October; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Apruncommon
Maynot usually seen
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepnot usually seen
Octrare
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 22-31	Nov 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 22-31	11%

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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Cherokee CountyBest late November · 59 checklists that week, 2,823 in all42%
Lancaster CountyBest late November · 62 checklists that week, 2,265 in all41%
Chesterfield CountyBest the second week of January · 28 checklists that week, 1,880 in all35%
Chester CountyBest mid November · 19 checklists that week, 921 in all34%
Laurens CountyBest mid January · 31 checklists that week, 2,316 in all33%
Oconee CountyBest mid January · 194 checklists that week, 10,415 in all33%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in South Carolina?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in late October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (11% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When do juncos leave South Carolina?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left South Carolina 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 South Carolina?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.