Birds of December: Junco

No winter in the Piedmont can be without "snow birds": the seasonal Slate Colored Juncos.  These characters are an endless source of visual entertainment.  They seem to hop about endlessly, emerging from beneath shrubs, checking the deck, and otherwise probing for whatever it is that they enjoy eating here (mostly seeds, of course).  We are always host to at least a dozen gregarious birds and they easily coexist with finches and Cardinals, often making for a vibrant display of energy on the ground.  I have about three months left to enjoy their visit.  I will make the most of it!