Feeding juncos

[David B]

I have a hanging feeder by the back door. The juncos happily eat the seed that other birds knock out of it, but they will not actually perch on it and eat there. They seem perfectly able to perch on small branches and one will occasionally fly up near the feeder and look it over before going back down. Any ideas why?

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David Bean

Arlington, MA USA

[Cindy K]

All I can say is that this year is the very first time, in some of the deepest cold, that some of my juncos *did* hop onto feeders. I've always been fascinated by this--wondering if their beaks are better suited to eating from the ground?

Cindy K

Wakefield

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[Deborah Dill]

The juncos have been perching on my thistle feeder all winter. For the first time! 

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[Jim Guion]

The juncos in my yard somehow learned how to use the feeder about 3. years ago.  The first couple of years, they only used the seed feeder.  This year, they also use the suet and the peanut feeder.

Also, I've always had song sparrows, but they never used the feeders, either.  This winter, I have one with no tail (!) that is using the seed feeder.

I wonder if the juncos are passing it along within the population as a new skill...

Jim Guion

Arlington

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From: 'Cindy K' via Arlington Birds <arlingt...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2026 1:55 PM
To: Arl Birds <arlingt...@googlegroups.com>; David B <dkbe...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Feeding juncos

 

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[Mark Hibberd]

Cool. The juncos here in Lexington have also learned how to use the seed and the nut feeders, and even the suet block. Cardinals have had some luck as well, though they clearly prefer to feed on the ground

Mark

Lexington

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