Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Summit County, UtahJuvenile Dark-eyed Junco – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It is that time of the year when juvenile and immature sparrow ID can drive me a little bonkers because I am seeing quite a few young sparrows right now when I am in the field. For me identifying this juvenile as a young Dark-eyed Junco I photographed two years ago wasn’t all that challenging but for other people it can be. I am asked “what is it?” quite often when it comes to sparrows anyway and when juveniles and immature birds are in the mix, the questions come more often.

I was in the high Uinta Mountains near Washington Lake when I spotted this young Dark-eyed Junco and I was able to take a few images of it before it flew away. Even though I know it is a Dark-eyed Junco at this age I’d be hesitant to pin down which subspecies of junco it was because at this age many of them look alike.

I hope to get back up into the Uinta Mountains before the snow starts flying. I haven’t been up there as much this year as I would have liked to have been. I just never know what I might find.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Dark-eyed Junco photos plus facts and information about this species.