Watercolor portrait of Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

What does the Dark-eyed Junco song sound like?

Junco hyemalis
Song Common

Play the real Dark-eyed Junco song, the "trill", and learn what to listen for.

“trill”

What the Dark-eyed Junco song sounds like

A musical, tinkling trill on one pitch, lasting 1-2 seconds. Males sing from elevated perches during breeding season.

“trill”

How to find the bird singing it

Coniferous and deciduous forests for breeding; open woodlands, fields, parks, and gardens during winter and migration.

  • White Outer Tail Feathers: Distinctive white outer tail feathers flash during flight and when birds are startled.
  • Regional Variations: Eastern 'Slate-colored' form is dark gray with white belly; western 'Oregon' form has black hood, brown back, and rufous flanks.
  • Pink Bill: Small, pinkish bill contrasts with dark plumage.

When you'll hear it

Spring

Northern populations return to breeding grounds; males establish territories and sing to attract mates.

Summer

Breeding pairs raise young in well-hidden ground nests or slightly elevated locations.

Fall

Form flocks and begin moving south or to lower elevations as cold weather approaches.

Winter

Common at bird feeders across much of North America; often form mixed flocks with chickadees and nuthatches.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Chipping Sparrow

Rusty cap and distinct white eyebrow in breeding plumage

Dark-eyed Junco song FAQ

What does a Dark-eyed Junco song sound like?
A musical, tinkling trill on one pitch, lasting 1-2 seconds. Males sing from elevated perches during breeding season. Birders write it as "trill".
How do I tell a Dark-eyed Junco from a American Tree Sparrow by ear?
American Tree Sparrow: Rusty cap and eye-line; Bicolored bill (dark above, yellow below).
When is the best time to hear the Dark-eyed Junco song?
Ground foragers, most active during daylight hours, often in flocks during non-breeding season.

More Dark-eyed Junco sounds

Dark-eyed Junco: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Gentle Two-Week MethodLearning bird songs by ear sounds intimidating until you realize you already know a few — that robin in your yard, the chickadee at the feeder. Here is the gentle on-ramp: seven birds to learn first, a memory trick that works even if you cannot carry a tune, and a ten-minute-a-day rhythm that turns spring noise into named neighbors.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.The Dawn Chorus: Which Birds Sing First Each Morning (And Why)Every morning, as the first light touches the sky, birds like the American Robin and Northern Cardinal begin their symphony. But why do they choose dawn for their most vigorous singing?