The Dark-eyed Junco commonly called snowbird, because of its sudden appearance around winter bird feeding stations, is a member of the sparrow family. It comes in several distinctly different looking forms, but all are readily identified as "juncos" by their plain patterning,
dark hood, and white outer tail feathers.



Nest Type: an open cup with foundation of rootlets, dried leaves, moss, and bark strips; a cup of grasses, fern rhizomes, and rootlets; and lined with fine grass stems, hair, or moss setae. Usually placed in small cavity on sloping bank or rock face, among roots of toppled tree, or along sloping road cut. Egg Description: Bluish white, covered in brownish speckles. Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs.


Melinda Pahl is an accomplished artist in Marin County California. She works from nature, focusing on creations not normaly seen by humans, such as bird's nests.