I agree with Dave and Russ that it can be really informative to study backyard
junco flocks. A different lesson to learn is what an incredible range of
appearance can be seen among birds that are still "just" Oregon Juncos.
Too often we look at birds just carefully enough to be sure we have identified
them correctly. When we keep looking, and looking at them as individuals we
learn so much more.
Wayne
On 3/22/2017 11:40:32 PM, David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Russ,
I assume that only a few Oregon birders recognize Mark Szantyr's name. Mark is
friend, who several years ago contributed an interesting article about presumed
Junco X White-throated Sparrow hybrids to the BirdFellow online journal. He has
spent years photographing juncos at his backyard feeders in Connecticut and
elsewhere in New England. He has a trained artist and has painted a unique set
of plates showing the variability of various forms and ages of Dark-eyed Junco.
I know of no one who has invested more energy into studying Dark-eyed Junco
variability.
Here's a link to the article that Mark wrote. It is includes his junco plates:
http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2009/09/06/probable_dark_eyed_junco_x_white_throated_sparrow_hybrids
[http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2009/09/06/probable_dark_eyed_junco_x_white_throated_sparrow_hybrids]
The "Cassiar" Dark-eyed Junco remains a debated taxon, with most folks now
believing that these birds are Slate-colored X Oregon Junco intergrades. During
recent winter trips to NE Oregon I've encountered a number of Cassiar Juncos
and I've seen a few in western Oregon as well.
As you suggest Russ, backyard junco flocks are a wonderful resource to study.
Juncos offer a great example of how much individual variation can occur within
a single species, with at least two subspecies (Oregon and Slate-colored) that
one can expect to see during winter in western Oregon. There are also
occasional reports of Pink-sided Juncos from western Oregon. Earlier this
winter a very surprising and well-documented "Gray-headed" Junco showed up at a
feeder near Trout Lake in Klickitat Co., Washington.
Dave Irons
Beaverton, OR
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Russ
Namitz <namitzr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 7:24 PM
To: OBOL Freelist
Subject: [obol] Dark-eyed "Cassiar" Junco in Oregon
I saw and photographed a Dark-eyed "Cassiar" Junco in Grass Valley, Sherman
County recently.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35131972 ;
[http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35131972]
This subject comes up from time to time and it is worth mentioning as juncos
are common feeder birds begging to have their photos taken. The "Cassiar"
Junco is thought to be a hybrid between "Oregon" and "Slate-colored" Juncos
interbreeding in the Canadian Rocky Mtns. Sibley lists it in the field guide
as "Canadian Rocky Mountain."
http://ebird.org/content/nw/news/dark-eyed-junco-races-oregon-slate-colored-and-cassiar/
[http://ebird.org/content/nw/news/dark-eyed-junco-races-oregon-slate-colored-and-cassiar/]
[http://ebird.org/content/nw/news/dark-eyed-junco-races-oregon-slate-colored-and-cassiar/]
Dark-eyed Junco races: Oregon, Slate-colored and Cassiar ...
[http://ebird.org/content/nw/news/dark-eyed-junco-races-oregon-slate-colored-and-cassiar/]
ebird.org
Most Northwest birders are familiar with identification of Oregon and
Slate-colored Juncos, but what about the Cassiar Junco (Junco hyemalis
cismontanus)?
Older discussion here.
http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html ;
[http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html]
Juncos: What do we know? - Angus Wilson
[http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html]
www.oceanwanderers.com
Juncos: What do we know? From Mark Szantyr: While I enjoy debating the
geographic origin of first year Herring Gulls as much as the next guy, and hey,
you can ...
Good birding,
Russ Namitz
