When do juncos leave Texas?

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

When is the best time to see juncos in Texas?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 10% of Texas checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Texas?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (10% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October

Common byNov 8-14the second week of November

PeakFeb 8-14the second week of February

Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of February. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 10% of Texas checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Apruncommon
Maynot usually seen
Junnot usually seen
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 Texas, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 15-21	Nov 8-14	Feb 8-14	Mar 15-21	10%

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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Swisher CountyBest late February · 22 checklists that week, 817 in all66%
Montague CountyBest the second week of March · 15 checklists that week, 861 in all64%
Red River CountyBest mid February · 52 checklists that week, 1,179 in all63%
Briscoe CountyBest late February · 13 checklists that week, 838 in all61%
Culberson CountyBest late November · 204 checklists that week, 5,249 in all61%
Hopkins CountyBest late November · 29 checklists that week, 975 in all60%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Texas?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of February (10% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.
When do juncos leave Texas?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Texas by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Texas?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of February, on about 10% of Texas checklists.