Habitat preference in the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis): The role of photoperiod and dominance

Wild-caught dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), simultaneously presented with projected slides of their winter and summer habitats, demonstrated distinct preferences (in terms of time spent in front of particular slides) consistent with their season of capture and prior laboratory experience. Juncos caught in and kept on winter or summer photoperiods preferred winter and summer habitat slides respectively. A gradual increase in photoperiod up to natural summer conditions induced a switch from winter to summer habitat preference: a decrease in photoperiod induced a range of slide preferences correlated with the junco's size, a measure of the bird's dominance rank.