{"id":59582,"date":"2019-08-18T05:12:32","date_gmt":"2019-08-18T11:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=59582"},"modified":"2024-11-02T12:20:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-02T17:20:33","slug":"juvenile-dark-eyed-junco-high-in-the-uinta-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/18\/juvenile-dark-eyed-junco-high-in-the-uinta-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco High In The Uinta Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

\"JuvenileJuvenile Dark-eyed Junco \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my Dark-eyed Junco photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,2749,1212,7562,1731,3886,5219,26],"tags":[5237,2750,5370,4067,6036,2751,6037,4071,14742,4069,4104,4195,2315,4193],"class_list":["post-59582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-dark-eyed-juncos","category-high-uintas-utah","category-mirror-lake-highway","category-summit-county-utah","category-uinta-national-forest","category-uinta-wasatch-cache-national-forest","category-utah","tag-conifer","tag-dark-eyed-junco","tag-forest","tag-immature","tag-junco","tag-junco-hyemalis","tag-juncos","tag-juvenile","tag-montane-forest","tag-mountains","tag-perched","tag-sparrows","tag-summer-3","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3126.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fv0","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48131,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/08\/17\/juvenile-dark-eyed-junco-trial-lake-and-mirror-lake-highway\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":0},"title":"Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco, Trial Lake and Mirror Lake Highway","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I was delighted to photograph a lovely, little Dark-eyed Junco juvenile perched in a conifer near Washington Lake which is not too far from Trial Lake and the Mirror Lake Highway.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dark-eyed Junco juvenile perched in a conifer, Uinta Mountains, Uinta National Forest, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/dark-eyed-junco-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3095.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/dark-eyed-junco-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3095.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/dark-eyed-junco-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3095.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/dark-eyed-junco-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3095.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54309,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/09\/26\/female-or-immature-dark-eyed-junco-oreganus-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":1},"title":"Female or Immature Dark-eyed Junco – Oreganus Group","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Three days ago I was able to photograph a female or immature Dark-eyed Junco of the Oreganus Group when it flew in and landed not too far away from me and I have to admit that seeing it excited me because I enjoy these birds so much.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female\/Immature Dark-eyed Junco - Oreganus Group, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-oregon-mia-mcpherson-5473.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-oregon-mia-mcpherson-5473.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-oregon-mia-mcpherson-5473.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-oregon-mia-mcpherson-5473.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":79577,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/02\/20\/low-light-dark-eyed-junco-in-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":2},"title":"Low Light Dark-eyed Junco In Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this week I photographed a male Dark-eyed Junco in snow close to home in poor, low light conditions. I am happy with how the photo turned out.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Low light Dark-eyed Junco in snow, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-adult-male-winter-snow-mia-mcpherson-3307.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-adult-male-winter-snow-mia-mcpherson-3307.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-adult-male-winter-snow-mia-mcpherson-3307.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-adult-male-winter-snow-mia-mcpherson-3307.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61570,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/11\/21\/wild-roses-provide-cover-for-sparrows-finches-and-juncos\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":3},"title":"Wild Roses Provide Cover for Sparrows, Finches And Juncos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Small birds like these White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and American Goldfinches need cover that provides safety for them from predators.","rel":"","context":"In "American Goldfinches"","block_context":{"text":"American Goldfinches","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/finches-and-allies\/american-goldfinches\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dark-eyed Junco and an autumn wild rose, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rosebush-mia-mcpherson-9136.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rosebush-mia-mcpherson-9136.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rosebush-mia-mcpherson-9136.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rosebush-mia-mcpherson-9136.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":168008,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2026\/02\/01\/male-slate-colored-dark-eyed-junco-in-a-snowstorm\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":4},"title":"Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco In A Snowstorm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I'm sharing a simple male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco photo I took one week ago during a snowstorm. The junco was waiting his turn to feed.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco in a snowstorm, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dark-eyed-junco-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-4546.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dark-eyed-junco-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-4546.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dark-eyed-junco-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-4546.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dark-eyed-junco-snowstorm-mia-mcpherson-4546.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74958,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/10\/28\/dark-eyed-junco-and-rabbitbrush\/","url_meta":{"origin":59582,"position":5},"title":"Dark-eyed Junco And Rabbitbrush","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the Dark-eyed Juncos that I had in my viewfinder was perched on top of a rabbitbrush with seeds and fluff in its bill that turned its head towards me.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dark-eyed Junco eating rabbitbrush seeds, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rabbitbrush-mia-mcpherson-9032.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rabbitbrush-mia-mcpherson-9032.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rabbitbrush-mia-mcpherson-9032.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/dark-eyed-junco-rabbitbrush-mia-mcpherson-9032.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/136160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}