junco

noun

jun·​co ˈjəŋ-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce junco (audio)
plural juncos or juncoes
: any of a genus (Junco of the family Passerellidae) of small widely distributed North American finches usually having a pink bill, ashy gray head and back, and conspicuous white lateral tail feathers

Examples of junco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yeh has researched the juncos for about three decades. Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026 The team also acknowledges the possibility that birds from surrounding wildland populations may have moved into the now-quieter city and bred with urban juncos. New Atlas, 11 Jan. 2026 Hanging bird feeders and suet cakes out in your garden is one way to help out birds that don't fly south in winter, such as cardinals and juncos. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025 Many ground-feeding birds enjoy white millet, including the juncos that travel south in fall and winter. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025 Similarly, Black-eyed Susans ()—including Goldsturm—develop rich seed heads that support birds such as juncos, sparrows and towhees. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 Species include the fox sparrow, the American tree sparrow and the dark-eyed junco. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025 Some common species span from the dark-eyed junco to the red-winged blackbird to the great blue heron, while fortunate visitors might catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring high above the river in search of fish. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Among the likely birds in Sacramento: house finch, mourning dove, crow, cedar waxwing, scrub jay, mockingbird, sparrow, goldfinch, junco and woodpecker. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Spanish, reed — more at jonquil

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of junco was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Junco.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junco. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

junco

noun
jun·​co ˈjəŋ-kō How to pronounce junco (audio)
plural juncos or juncoes
: any of a genus of small North American finches usually with a pink bill, ashy gray head and back, and white tail feathers

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