When do juncos leave Wisconsin?

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

When is the best time to see juncos in Wisconsin?

The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in early November, on about 49% of Wisconsin checklists.

Dark-eyed Junco · Junco hyemalis

When Do Juncos Arrive in Wisconsin?

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

Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Wisconsin: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by early October, peak in early November (49% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 15-21mid September

Common byOct 1-7early October

PeakNov 1-7early November

Most gone byApr 15-21mid April

Best: early November. First arrivals mid September; most are gone by mid April. Peak: on about 49% of Wisconsin checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Mayrare
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepuncommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Juncos in Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Dark-eyed Junco	Sep 15-21	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	Apr 15-21	49%

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for Dark-eyed Junco

Share of checklists at the peak

Crawford CountyBest early January · 61 checklists that week, 4,271 in all82%
Taylor CountyBest mid October · 61 checklists that week, 4,326 in all81%
La Crosse CountyBest late January · 284 checklists that week, 15,788 in all77%
Washburn CountyBest mid October · 120 checklists that week, 7,099 in all77%
Polk CountyBest late October · 378 checklists that week, 18,155 in all77%
Vernon CountyBest late January · 322 checklists that week, 13,255 in all77%

Common questions

When do juncos arrive in Wisconsin?: Dark-eyed Juncos are winter birds in Wisconsin: the first arrive in mid September, they are common by early October, peak in early November (49% of checklists), and most are gone by mid April.
When do juncos leave Wisconsin?: Most Dark-eyed Juncos have left Wisconsin by mid April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early May.
When is the best time to see juncos in Wisconsin?: The Dark-eyed Junco is reported most often in early November, on about 49% of Wisconsin checklists.