Junco oreganus, Oregon Junco



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Status: A common year-round resident of the state composed of two subspecies that breed in the mountains and several subspecies that winter in that area. In summer the nesting birds are confined almost entirely to montane forest communities. In winter large flocks occur, especially in lower valleys and foothills, but they may be found at almost any elevation where ground food is available.

Records: Collections and observations of this abundant species by early collectors in the state as well as by more recent observers are numerous for all parts of the area. No attempt will be made to list them here.

Subspecies: Several forms of the Junco in the United States previously considered to be separate species are now regarded as subspecies of Junco hyemalis. This is because more field work has indicated that there is a general overlapping and hybridization wherever the breeding populations of the several forms meet. J. h. caniceps appears to be the breeding subspecies inthe mountains through most of Utah. However, J. h. mearnsi breeds in the Wasatch Mountains of extreme northern Utah. In this area the two breeding forms hybridize commonly. Wintering juncos in utah are primarily of the race J. h. montanus, which is of an extremely variable group somewhat confused with J. h. shufeldti, which may also occur in the wintering populations. Smaller numbers of J. h. hyemalis - J. h. mearnsi, J. h. canciceps, J. h. cismontanus, and possibly other races - also appear in winter, usually in mixed flocks.

Hayward, C., Cottam, C., Woodbury, A., Frost, A. Birds of Utah, Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs, Number 1, Page 162 Brigham Young University, 1976.