How to attract western tanagers to your yard
Western Tanagers respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 22 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. It arrives only to breed in 22, such as Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho and 16 more, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what western tanagers use
These native plants are tied to the Western Tanager in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Shrub | 19 | Red fruit heads hang on through winter. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 16 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | 16 | White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 15 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 11 | Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter. |
| Paper birch Betula papyrifera | Tree | 10 | Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. |
| Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 9 | Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 8 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum | Shrub | 8 | Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 7 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, perennial, tree). Layering matters: mixing shrub, perennial, tree gives western tanagers food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Insects in the canopy; fruit in migration.
- Warm months
- Wasps, beetles, caterpillars and bees
- Cold months
- Migrates to Central America
- At feeders
- Orange halves, Grape jelly (during migration)
Feeder style matters as much as food: oriole feeder with jelly cups and orange spikes is the first choice for this bird. Drops from the treetops to oranges, jelly and birdbaths during spring migration, especially in dry country. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Shallow cup far out on a conifer branch.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 3–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 13 days
- Nestling period
- 11–15 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts western tanagers to a yard?
Food they actually eat (orange halves, grape jelly (during migration)), native plants such as Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, clean water and suitable nesting cover: shallow cup far out on a conifer branch.
What plants attract western tanagers?
Across the Western Tanager's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting western tanagers?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Yukon. Have cover, water ready a month before.
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
- 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.