 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
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Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
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Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
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-1.03 (-1.98 - -0.161)|
Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
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Atlas Results
Dark-eyed Juncos were found in 470 atlas squares, predominantly in the boreal forest. Readily encountered from the Boreal Transition ecoregion northward, juncos were most abundant in the northern third of the province as well as in the Mid-Boreal Lowland. South of the boreal regions, Dark-eyed Juncos were observed in seven squares in the Cypress Uplands, in eight squares in the Aspen Parkland between North Battleford and Lloydminster, as well as one observation in Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Despite the absence of subspecies-level data collection, multiple observers made observations pertaining to the Pink-sided subspecies (Junco hyemalis mearnsi), which was only documented in the Cypress Hills.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
The Dark-eyed Junco is one of North America's most abundant and widespread birds. The Slate-colored Junco (3 subspecies) breeds in boreal forest from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to west-central Alberta, east through northern and central Saskatchewan, and south through the Appalachians to northern Georgia. The Pink-sided Junco (1 subspecies: J. h. mearnsi) breeds from the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and adjacent Alberta south to Wyoming.
During the nesting season these birds have a broad habitat tolerance, seeking out coniferous and mixed forest stands of all ages, especially those with openings and edges; burned lands and muskegs; and occasionally deciduous forests. During the breeding season, the Pink-sided Junco occupy higher-elevation pine, spruce, and aspen poplar woodlands and adjacent shrubs and openings in the Cypress Hills (Godfrey 1950). On migration Juncos favour weedy places, fields, roadsides, and gardens, rarely far from the shelter of trees. Wintering birds are almost always seen near bird feeders or feedlots.
A common summer resident in various coniferous forest habitats throughout the north (Slate-colored) and the Cypress Hills (Pink-sided restricted to Cypress Hills) with occasionally breeding in the parklands. There are enough winter records for it to be considered an uncommon winter resident of southern Saskatchewan (Smith 1996).
Original text by Gordon A. Taylor and Philip S. Taylor. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Dark-eyed Junco in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Dark-eyed Junco in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=DEJU&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]
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