Red-Backed, Dark-Eyed Junco

18 x 24"

The breeding range of the "Red-Backed", Dark-Eyed Junco is SE Arizona.  A very rare bird, it was only discovered in 2008 and photographed at 7300 feet.  There is a wide range of Juncos with 15 races described as Dark-Eyed, five of which were thought to be a different species until the 1980's.  There is a "slate-colored" junco in the Eastern U S., and Canada, an "Oregon" junco found in the Western U. S. with a warm brown back, dark hood, and rufous flanks.  Basically, they live on the ground in forests and forage around the bottom of trees looking for seeds.  The size is that of sparrows or even a bit smaller.  They have high chip notes.