Anatomy: The junco is 5 to 6 1/2 inches (13-16 cm) long. The feathers are dark gray above and white below; the outer tail feathers are white (mostly seen during flight).

Diet: Juncos mostly eat seeds, but also eat insects.

Nest and Eggs: Juncos nest on or near the forest floor; nests are open cups made from grass, moss and bark. Females lay 3-5 pale green eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid at one time). The incubation period is 12 to 13 days.

Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves (birds), order Passeriformes, family Fringillidae, genus Junco, species J. hyemalis.