Which Junco?

[lonesome55dove]

Photos taken 27 DEC 2020 / South Central Washington ~ Klickitat County

Is this a regular Oregon Dark-eyed Junco or a subspecies? I don't recall ever seeing one with a brown back and head like this one. Thank you for your help! ?

 

 

Edited December 31, 2020 by lonesome55dove

[Seanbirds]

@Connor Cochrane and @DLecy could probably help. Goodness knows I can’t!

[Melierax]

Looks like an Oregon - I believe first year birds have the brown nape and cap. Just to clarify, Dark-eyed Junco is the species, Oregon is one of the subspecies. 

[Seanbirds]

1 minute ago, Melierax said:

Looks like an Oregon - I believe first year birds have the brown nape and cap. Just to clarify, Dark-eyed Junco is the species, Oregon is one of the subspecies. 

I thought so, but as I have never seen an Oregon Junco, I didn’t want to say something that would make it look like I didn’t know what I was talking about.

[lonesome55dove]

39 minutes ago, Melierax said:

Looks like an Oregon - I believe first year birds have the brown nape and cap. Just to clarify, Dark-eyed Junco is the species, Oregon is one of the subspecies. 

Thank you!  -  Yes, I knew that of course, I should have worded it differently, lol!! ? 

[DLecy]

41 minutes ago, Melierax said:

Looks like an Oregon - I believe first year birds have the brown nape and cap. Just to clarify, Dark-eyed Junco is the species, Oregon is one of the subspecies. 

Oregon Dark-eyed Junco actually refers to the Oreganus group of Dark-eyed Juncos. It is not, as is commonly referred to, the subspecies. Within the Oregon group there are eight subspecies, but they can be very difficult to identify and the differences slight. So, most people just leave it at the "Oregon group" level.

[DLecy]

And yes, as @Melierax pointed out this is likely an immature female Oregon DEJU, hence the muted/dull browns and grays mixed in the head and nape, lacking the more sharp, rich, and contrasty look of adults. 

[Tony Leukering]

1 hour ago, lonesome55dove said:

Is this a regular Oregon Dark-eyed Junco or a subspecies?

The question doesn't make much sense, as Oregon Junco is a subspecies group, all 6 or so of which are subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco.

[lonesome55dove]

10 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said:

The question doesn't make much sense, as Oregon Junco is a subspecies group, all 6 or so of which are subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco.

Yes, I'm aware of that...it was poor wording on my part! ?

[lonesome55dove]

54 minutes ago, DLecy said:

And yes, as @Melierax pointed out this is likely an immature female Oregon DEJU, hence the muted/dull browns and grays mixed in the head and nape, lacking the more sharp, rich, and contrasty look of adults. 

Thank you! ?