When do juncos leave Tennessee?

Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Tennessee by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.

When is the best time to see juncos in Tennessee?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 25% of Tennessee checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Tennessee?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by early November, peak in the second week of January (25% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October

Common byNov 1-7early November

PeakJan 8-14the second week of January

Most gone byMar 22-31late March

Best: the second week of January. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 25% of Tennessee checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Mayrare
Junrare
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepnot usually seen
Octuncommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Tennessee, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 15-21	Nov 1-7	Jan 8-14	Mar 22-31	25%

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Houston CountyBest mid February · 27 checklists that week, 1,234 in all90%
Tipton CountyBest early December · 24 checklists that week, 1,603 in all83%
Johnson CountyBest the second week of December · 10 checklists that week, 1,558 in all73%
Perry CountyBest mid January · 44 checklists that week, 3,047 in all69%
Lewis CountyBest the second week of March · 20 checklists that week, 1,364 in all63%
McNairy CountyBest mid February · 42 checklists that week, 706 in all63%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Tennessee?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Tennessee: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by early November, peak in the second week of January (25% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When do juncos leave Tennessee?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Tennessee by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Tennessee?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of January, on about 25% of Tennessee checklists.