Dark-eyed Junco intergrades - Pink-sided Junco x Grey-headed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1334)

Steve comments on this bird:

"Note the bright red back, a feature of both parental types, but more prominent in Grey-headed Junco.  Also note the red on crown, a Grey-headed Junco feature.  However, flanks are an admixture of pink and gray, intermediate between the two taxa.  I think that the head, particularly the throat, looks paler than typical of Grey-headed Junco as well."

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco') (same bird as in photo ID 1334 above), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1335-1336)

The next one was at the same place, same day.  Steve notes that this bird has less pink on the sides that the one above but its back colour and dark lores are more like Pink-sided.  Also it had a slight hooded effect which he says a Grey-headed wouldn't show.  There is too much grey beneath for a Pink-sided Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1337)

On the next bird Steve draws attention to the moderate mix of pink and grey on the sides, its vague hooded appearance and Grey-headed Junco like bright red back.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1113-1114)

 

The next photo shows the same bird.  Steve notes that from the side it looks rather like a Pink-sided Junco with a bit of grey washed in the sides but a rather bright red back.  He assures us that the grey wash on the flanks was real, making them duller than one would normally find in a Pink-sided Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco') (same bird as in photo IDs 1113-1114 above), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1116)

Same place, same day, but different bird.  Steve points out that this bird looks rather like a Grey-headed Junco but notes some pink washed on the sides and a hint of a hooded appearance.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1115)

The hooded effect with greyish sides initially led Steve to think that this bird was a "Cassiar" Junco (see Slate-coloured Junco x Oregon Junco).  However, Steve tellls us that unlike typical birds from that population, this bird showed significant pink wash on its sides.  More importantly, the back was intense red, as would only be seen in an adult male Slate-coloured x Oregon Junco (of which Cassiar is a version).  This bird is clearly not an adult male - indeed the bit of brown on the nape and crown strongly suggests it is a first year bird.  The bright chestnut-red back, sides washed in pink and grey, medium grey hood and dark lores all point to a Pink-sided x Grey-headed Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Lyons, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 16th March 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1194-1195)

The next three photos show different birds, all taken at the same place and time.  Note the intermediate flank colour on the first bird.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1231)

On the next one Steve notes the hooded effect and fairly extensive pink on the sides in an otherwise Grey-headed Junco like bird.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1230)

This one looks more like a Grey-headed Junco but with a couple distinct patches of bright pink on the sides and some pink wash in between.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1229)

On the next Steve notes the brick red back of a Grey-headed Junco and the sides mixed in grey and pink, as one would expect from an intergrade.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 11th December 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1713)

Although mostly resembling a Grey-headed Junco (medium-dark grey head extending down toward belly with bright chestnut back), Cathy points out thatthe pink smudges on the side below the wing hints at it being a hybrid.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Cathy Sheeter

(photo ID: 1882)

On this one the warm pink cast on the entire side hints at this bird as being a hybrid.  The colour of the primaries and secondaries also appears intermediate between the two taxa (not as pink asPink-sided , but not as grey as Grey-headed).  Cathy points out that the rusty smudges on the head are not uncommon on Grey-headed Junco.  Steve adds that the hooded appearance pretty well clinches the ID.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Cathy Sheeter

(photo ID: 1883)

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Elderado Mountain Open Space, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 7th November 2008 - copyright Christian Nunes

(photo IDs: 2332-2334)

(See also: Slate-coloured Junco x Oregon Junco, Oregon Junco x Pink-sided Junco, Pink-sided Junco x White-winged Junco, Grey-headed Junco x Red-backed Junco)
 


Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 
'Pink-sided Junco' Junco hyemalis mearnsi-group 
'Grey-headed Junco' Junco hyemalis caniceps-group