Juncos are small sparrows found throughout North America. They are ground-feeding birds that thrive in open areas near woodlands. Determining a junco’s favorite food requires looking at their natural diet and feeding behaviors.
What Do Juncos Eat in the Wild?
Juncos are opportunistic feeders that consume a variety of seeds and insects. Their natural diet consists of:
- Seeds – Juncos eat a mix of small seeds from grasses, weeds, and other plants. This includes seeds from ragweed, knotweed, goosefoot, sorrel, and more.
- Grains – Juncos will feast on grains like wheat, oats, rye, buckwheat, and rice when abundant.
- Fruit – Berries and fruits supplement a junco’s diet when available. They enjoy blackberries, raspberries, currants, sumac, and more.
- Insects – During spring and summer, juncos eat insects like beetles, caterpillars, ants, and various larva.
Research shows that approximately 60% of a junco’s diet consists of seeds from weeds and grasses. These small hard seeds are readily available on the ground in the open habitats juncos prefer. Access to weed and grass seeds sustains juncos through harsh winters when other foods are scarce. Their strong, pointed beaks efficiently crack open and consume these small seeds.
Preferred Grass and Weed Seeds
Studies specifically looking at junco’s favorite seeds have identified preferences:
- Goosefoot
- Pigweed
- Lamb’s quarters
- Ragweed
- Smartweed
- Panic grass
- Foxtail grass
- Barnyard grass
These hardy weeds and grasses produce an abundance of small, nutritious seeds perfect for juncos. The easily accessible seeds satisfy a junco’s hunger while minimizing foraging efforts. Access to ample weed and grass seeds is especially crucial in winter when snow cover makes extensive foraging difficult.
Favorite Foods at Bird Feeders
Juncos readily visit backyard bird feeders for supplemental food sources. Their favorite feeder foods closely match their natural diet:
- Millet – The small, round millet seeds offered at bird feeders are similar to weed and grass seeds juncos eat naturally. Juncos will gorge on readily available millet.
- Cracked corn – The small pieces of cracked corn offer another easy to eat seed food. Juncos will consume cracked corn in large quantities.
- Nyjer – The tiny black nyjer seeds are a junco favorite at feeders. These oil-rich seeds provide energy and nutrition.
- Peanuts – Juncos will eat small bits of peanuts offered at feeders.
- Oats – Juncos will consume rolled and steel-cut oats from feeders.
- Bread – Juncos will pick at bread scraps offered at feeders.
In a backyard setting, millet and cracked corn are consumed in the highest quantities by foraging juncos. Offering these seeds in feeders ensures juncos get the calories they need during stressful winter months.
Favorite Feeder Designs
To best serve juncos, consider feeder designs that cater to their ground feeding behavior:
- Platform feeders – Flat, open trays or platforms placed directly on the ground allow easy access.
- Tube feeders – Tube feeders with small seed ports and perches near the base are perfect for juncos.
- Hopper feeders – Hopper feeders positioned just a few feet off the ground with Seed ports accessible from perches.
Juncos prefer to feed on the ground. Low, open feeders allow them to quickly grab seeds and provide cover if needed. They are shy birds, so tube feeders with protective covers are appealing.
Favorite Foods in Winter
As temperatures drop in winter, juncos depend on high energy foods. Their favorites include:
- Black oil sunflower seeds – The high oil content of these seeds provides more calories for cold winter days.
- Suet – Suet ispure animal fat that gives juncos an energy boost.
- Peanuts – Whole peanuts offer some fat and protein.
- Nyjer seeds – Nyjer is small but packed with oil and calories.
Access to fatty, energy-dense foods during winter is critical for juncos. Feeding black oil sunflower seeds and suet provides essential winter nutrition.
Supplements for Colder Climates
In extremely cold climates, juncos benefit from additional winter feeds:
- Mealworms – Dried or live mealworms add fat and protein to sustain juncos in harsh conditions.
- Fruit – Slices of fruit or berries provide quick energy from natural sugars.
- Nuts – Whole peanuts, almonds, and walnuts supplement their diet.
The right supplements help juncos survive freezing temperatures and scarcer food supplies. Offering fatty, nutritious foods ensures juncos have sufficient energy reserves.
Favorite Natural Foods by Season
Juncos enjoy a variety of naturally available foods through the year:
Spring
- Seeds – Fresh grass and weed seeds are abundant as plants mature.
- Insects – Caterpillars, beetles, and other insects emerge, providing much needed protein.
- Fruit – Berries left from fall add variety.
Summer
- Seeds – Seeds from grasses, grains, and weeds sustain juncos through summer.
- Insects – Juncos feast on grasshoppers, flies, ants, beetles, and insect larva.
- Fruit – Ripening berries supplement their diet.
Fall
- Seeds – Weed seeds, waste grains, and grass seeds are plentiful as plants dry.
- Fruit – Juncos eat ripe berries and fruits preparing for winter.
- Insects – Caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles remain part of their diet.
Winter
- Seeds – Dried weed seeds and waste grains are vital food sources.
- Fruit – Leftover berries provide needed calories.
- Conifer seeds – Seeds from pine, spruce, and hemlock trees add fat.
The natural foods juncos consume shifts with seasonal availability. But weed and grass seeds remain the most critical component through all seasons.
Do Juncos Have a Favorite Food?
When considering a junco’s favorite food sources, their natural diet and feeding behaviors offer insight. The evidence points to:
- Weed seeds – Particularly seeds from goosefoot, pigweed, lamb’s quarters, and ragweed rank as clear favorites, providing 60% of their annual diet.
- Grass seeds – Seeds from readily available grasses are another key favorite food.
- Millet – At bird feeders, juncos will voraciously feed on millet, similar to their favored weed and grass seeds.
Access to ample weed and grass seeds provides the nutrition and energy juncos need throughout the year. Their strong preference and dependence on these small seeds makes them clear favorites. So while juncos enjoy various seeds, fruits, and insects, the abundant availability of preferred weed and grass seeds makes them a junco’s number one favorite food.
Conclusion
Juncos have adapted to thrive on readily available weed and grass seeds. The abundance of these nutritious small seeds perfectly suit the junco’s ground feeding behavior. While juncos consume a variety of foods through the seasons, their clear favorites are small hard seeds from common weeds and grasses. Meeting their high demand for these preferred seeds sustains juncos and makes weed and grass seeds a junco’s undisputed favorite food.