Juncos and Purple Finches (second photo) have been at our feeders this week. Both species come down from nesting sites that spread coast to coast across Canada. They are winter visitors here. The junco pictured is the Slate-colored race of the Dark-eyed species. Juncos come in several races: Slate-colored, Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged, Gray-headed, and Red-backed. Slate-colored is our usual visitor. The third bird pictured is a Red-winged Blackbird showing the colored feather tips that will wear off this winter, creating the shiny black bird we see in the spring.
