Yukon · Summer breeder

Hermit Thrushs in Yukon

When hermit thrushes are present in Yukon, when they nest, which native Yukon plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1b yard.

Thrushes (Turdidae)Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus

Status in Yukon: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1b

When to expect hermit thrushes in Yukon

Hermit Thrushs are summer residents in Yukon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.

Nesting in Yukon

Across Yukon, hermit thrushes typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.

Hermit Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, pin cherry, chokecherry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Yukon plants that attract hermit thrushes

Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 8 provide food or cover hermit thrushes use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all 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.

Western serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Feeding hermit thrushes through the Yukon year

Top foods: Raisins, Mealworms.
In Yukon's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for hermit thrushes · Best feeder for hermit thrushes

Frequently asked

Are hermit thrushes in Yukon year-round?

No. Hermit Thrushs are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.

When do hermit thrushes nest in Yukon?

Nesting in Yukon typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.

What native plants attract hermit thrushes in Yukon?

Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Western serviceberry, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for hermit thrushes.

Other backyard birds in Yukon

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler American Tree Sparrow Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow American Crow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl 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 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing 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.