Jumbled Juncos

Tuesday morning I went outside to feed the cats and saw a couple of juncos - the first of the winter season.  I never see them during the summer, only when food starts to get scarce and especially when there is snow on the ground.  The Dark-eyed Junco, a North American bird and member of the sparrow family, is one of the most variable birds around with variations within subspecies which include slate-colored juncos,

Source:  Wikipedia

white-winged juncos,

Photo by Christian Nunes  Source:  About.com

Oregon juncos,

Source:  Wikipedia

pink-sided juncos,

Source: Wikipedia

and gray-headed juncos.

Source:  Wikipedia

There is also a red-backed version and the Guadalupe junco.  You get the idea!  Mine, I think, are the slate-colored type.

They are ground foragers and coniferous forest dwellers.  I live next to a park which is probably why they show up here.  Seeds and insects are the main items on their diet.

Will try to get some photos once winter really sets in.