Dark-eyed Juncos

This week our yard has been full of juncos. They're one of my favorite birds-- busy little ground feeders with pretty white tails that flash when they fly. The finches sit at the feeder eating like piggies at a trough, while the juncos cover the ground underneath, happy with the scraps of seed they throw down.

Sometimes I see Vino lurking out there by the feeder, hoping a bird will jump into his mouth. Fortunately he's a poor hunter, so maybe he's decided to just watch now. Anyway, I'm glad for it because you can't do anything about a cat's natural behavior, and he has the run of the neighborhood. We often talk about the irony of a clueless cat living so long and successfully in the city. It isn't unusual for me to spot him from the car within a several block radius of our house. Who knows how many people give the poor "stray" tabby a handout? So he must have some street smarts...

But back to the dark-eyed juncos. Someone on Flickr posted this very nice picture. My Seattle bird guide says they are year round residents here, but more abundant in the winter because they nest outside the city during the summer. A sweet and pretty little bird to have around in the dreary months.