A short lesson on the tufted titmouse and dark-eyed junco who frequent our feeders this time of year.

I see these small gray birds quite often and love watching them.

My Stokes Field Guide to Birds – Eastern Region – tells me that they are about 5″ in length.

They eat insects, seeds, and berries – and I can affirm that they like sunflower seeds and suet.

The dark-eyed junco is slightly larger at 6″.

They usually feed on the ground but also like sunflower seeds.

Flocks of juncos return to the same area each winter.

This beautiful sunset – on the evening of December 19 – drew me outside.

I was particularly interested in the vertical glow of light in this evening beauty.