Pinky

Day 164: Dark-Eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) come in a variety of forms. Some authorities consider them as different sub-species. However with much interbreeding between the variants, it's difficult to draw a distinct line. This particular bird is a good example of the lighter colored form of "Oregon" Junco. The flanks have a broader and rosier area of color and the head is sooty grey instead of black, similar to that exhibited by the Pink-Sided species found in the Rocky Mountain states. It is uncertain whether the light form is a sub-species variation or due to intermingling with the Rocky Mountain genotype.