Here in the United States, Yellow-eyed Juncos (Junco phaeonotus) are common, year-round residents in the mountains of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

Yellow-eyed Juncos are very similar in appearance to both the Red-backed form and the Gray-headed form of Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis), and they are also similar to Black-chinned Sparrows (Spizella atrogularis), but Yellow-eyed Juncos can easily be identified by their yellow eyes.

I photographed these Yellow-eyed Juncos in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona in March of 2006, and they were by far the most common bird that I observed there. The March weather was cold and windy with light snow, but these juncos braved the cold and snow to get some of the birdseed that I'd tossed on the ground.

Yellow-eyed Juncos are usually found on or near the ground, and these bold birds are generally fairly brave around humans and don't seem to mind being photographed, especially if there's free birdseed involved.