January 9th, 2006. Amherst, MA.
| Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis.
Female showing characteristics of one of the Western forms.
| The bright female Dark-eyed Junco
which first visited us on December 26th continues to visit our yard (up to Jan 11th). Several birders, including Steve Mlodinow of Washington State, remain convinced that this bird a female Oregon or OR (Oregon) x
PS (Pink-sided) Junco. Steve has further commented as follows;
"Many of our juncos (in WA) are quite pale gray hooded, especially
females, and especially immature females. I just don't have any photos.
Many approximate the depictions of PSJU in hood color.
I guess one could argue this bird could be a cismontanus.
Who really knows the variation in immatures in that "race”? I see no
reason to assume such, however. Some have theorized that many/most "ORJUs" are really cismontanus.
If such is the case, you should be seeing some of those males, which
are really easy to ID, and I"ve not seen a pic of such a bird from the
east. There's a nice depiction in Sibley.
I'd expect cismontanus to
distribute itself much like Myr x Aud, altivagans Fox Sparrows, YSxRS
Flickers, etc --- all of which share a similar breeding range, and none
of which show a particular proclivity towards wandering eastward.
Cheers
Steve Mlodinow"
Steve also mentioned that four members of the WBRC, all of whom have
lived in the East in the past, have viewed the images and believe the
bird to be an Oregon Junco, or maybe Oregon x Pink-sided.
A discussion on the appearance and occurrence of Western forms of Dark-eyed Junco is presented by Mark Szantyr on Angus Wilson’s website at (http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID). It's well worth a visit.
Any further thoughts/opinions are welcome.
| | Images taken using Canon Powershot A-95 through Swarovski HD telescope. |
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