When do juncos leave Virginia?

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

When is the best time to see juncos in Virginia?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 38% of Virginia checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Virginia?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Virginia: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in the second week of December (38% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October

Common byNov 1-7early November

PeakDec 8-14the second week of December

Most gone byApr 1-7early April

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by early April. Peak: on about 38% of Virginia checklists.

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

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

Juncos in Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Oct 8-14	Nov 1-7	Dec 8-14	Apr 1-7	38%

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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Patrick CountyBest the second week of December · 34 checklists that week, 3,252 in all86%
Appomattox CountyBest mid November · 69 checklists that week, 4,946 in all78%
Shenandoah CountyBest the second week of December · 81 checklists that week, 9,361 in all77%
Buchanan CountyBest late January · 35 checklists that week, 1,612 in all76%
Grayson CountyBest mid January · 51 checklists that week, 5,247 in all75%
Lunenburg CountyBest the second week of December · 32 checklists that week, 2,535 in all73%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Virginia?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Virginia: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by early November, peak in the second week of December (38% of checklists), and most are gone by early April.
When do juncos leave Virginia?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Virginia by early April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see juncos in Virginia?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 38% of Virginia checklists.