Saskatchewan · Summer breeder

Bohemian Waxwings in Saskatchewan

When bohemian waxwings are present in Saskatchewan, when they nest, which native Saskatchewan plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus

Status in Saskatchewan: Summer breeder
Nesting window: July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–3b

When to expect bohemian waxwings in Saskatchewan

Bohemian Waxwings are summer residents in Saskatchewan, arriving shortly before nesting begins in July and leaving after the young are independent.

Continental — prairie in the south, boreal forest in the north.

Nesting in Saskatchewan

Across Saskatchewan, bohemian waxwings typically nest from July. Plan around that window: June for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm, sunny summers.

Bohemian Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, pin cherry, chokecherry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Saskatchewan plants that attract bohemian waxwings

Of the regional native plants we track for Saskatchewan, these 8 provide food or cover bohemian waxwings use:

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Pin cherry

Prunus pensylvanica · Tree

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Highbush cranberry

Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

Golden currant

Ribes aureum · Shrub

Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.

Western serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea · Shrub

Tart red fruit that persists into winter.

Feeding bohemian waxwings through the Saskatchewan year

Top foods: Raisins, Chopped apple.
In Saskatchewan's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for bohemian waxwings · Best feeder for bohemian waxwings

Frequently asked

Are bohemian waxwings in Saskatchewan year-round?

No. Bohemian Waxwings are summer breeders in Saskatchewan and leave for the winter.

When do bohemian waxwings nest in Saskatchewan?

Nesting in Saskatchewan typically runs July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.

What native plants attract bohemian waxwings in Saskatchewan?

Smooth sumac, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Buffaloberry are native plants in Saskatchewan that provide food or cover for bohemian waxwings.

Other backyard birds in Saskatchewan

Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Fox Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.