When do western tanagers arrive in Arizona?
The Western Tanager is a summer breeder in Arizona — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Western Tanager timing in Arizona
- Arrives
- Around March
- Leaves
- By August
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- April–July
- Present roughly
- March–August
In Arizona, western tanagers are present through the warm months, arriving around March and heading south again by August.
These windows are set by latitude: Arizona sits in the southern part of this species' range, so timing here runs earlier than the continental average — spring comes sooner, and the birds follow it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when western tanagers are expected in Arizona. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before March is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early March — the first western tanagers into Arizona are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around April, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What western tanagers eat while they're here
- Wasps, beetles, caterpillars and bees
Drops from the treetops to oranges, jelly and birdbaths during spring migration, especially in dry country.
Full Western Tanager diet guide → · Best feeder for western tanagers →
Native plants that hold western tanagers in Arizona
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Arizona-native plants are known to attract western tanagers:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do western tanagers arrive in Arizona?
western tanagers typically arrive in Arizona around March, with nesting underway by April. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do western tanagers leave Arizona?
Most western tanagers have left Arizona by August. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do western tanagers stay in Arizona all year?
No — in Arizona the Western Tanager is a summer breeder, present roughly March–August. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before western tanagers arrive in Arizona?
Have feeders up and clean by early March — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: wasps, beetles, caterpillars and bees.
Sources
- Western Tanager — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Tanager life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Tanager — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.