Dark-eyed Junco intergrades - Pink-sided Junco x White-winged Junco

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'White-winged Junco'),  Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1338)

Steve tells us that the above photo, taken in bright sun, makes the back and pink on wings look brighter than they actually were on the photo above.  The next photo better shows the relatively dull back (for a Pink-sided Junco) and the greyish tertials, which are more of a White-winged Junco trait (though there is some brown on the tertials, so they are truly intermediate).  The white tipped tail is also classically a White-winged Junco mark, but might be present on some Pink-sided Juncos.

The greyish wing coverts and tertials, lacking distinct buff/orange/pink edging, point away from this bird being simply a Pink-sided Junco with wingbars.  Also, note the duller than expected back colour and the greyish wash on flanks is atypical for Pink-sided Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'White-winged Junco') (same bird as in photo ID 1338 above),  Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1339-1341)

A similar bird at the same place one year later was perhaps the same individual.  Cathy notes:

"This bird shows distinct traits of two different subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco.  This bird mostly resembles a Pink-Sided Junco in coloration (medium gray head, warm pink cast to sides and back), but the distinct wing bars, slightly larger and grooved bill, plus atypical color pattern hint at this bird as being a hybrid.  It also shows more white on the tail than average for Pink-Sided Junco (though this is somewhat variable from bird to bird).  The primary and secondary flight feathers are intermediary for these two subspecies, with the secondary feathers on the wing in most Pink-Sided Junco typically being pink (they are gray in White-winged Junco and mostly gray on this bird).   Primary flight feathers can be gray on either variation."

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

(photo IDs: 1879-1881)

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'White-winged Junco'), Elderado Mountain Open Space, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 2nd November 2008 - copyright Christian Nunes

(photo IDs: 2337-2339)

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

(photo IDs: 2335-2336)

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


Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
'Pink-sided Junco' Junco hyemalis mearnsi-group
'White-winged Junco' Junco hyemalis aikeni