junco

[juhng-koh] /ˈdʒʌŋ koʊ/

noun, plural juncos.

any of several small North American finches of the genus Junco.

Also called snowbird.

Origin

1700-10; < Spanish: rush, bird found in rush beds < Latin juncus rush

Examples from the web for junco

Common summer resident birds include the white-throated sparrow, northern junco, and yellow-bellied sapsucker.
The slate-colored junco is distinguished by the slaty-gray back, white bill, and white underparts.

British Dictionary definitions for junco

/ˈdʒʌŋkəʊ/

noun (pl) -cos, -coes

any North American bunting of the genus Junco, having a greyish plumage with white outer tail feathers

Word Origin

C18: from Spanish: a rush, a marsh bird, from Latin juncus rush

Word Origin and History for junco

1706, from Spanish junco "reed, bush," as in junco ave "reed sparrow," a bird of the Indies.