Varied Thrushs in Alaska
When varied thrushes are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
When to expect varied thrushes in Alaska
Varied Thrushs are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects and earthworms.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, varied thrushes typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cup against conifer trunks. Females lay 1–6 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 13–15 days.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Varied Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red-osier dogwood, western serviceberry, salal for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alaska plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 6 provide food or cover varied thrushes use:
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Dark berries and evergreen understory cover.
Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.
Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.
Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.
Feeding varied thrushes through the Alaska year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for varied thrushes · Best feeder for varied thrushes
Frequently asked
Are varied thrushes in Alaska year-round?
No. Varied Thrushs are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do varied thrushes nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract varied thrushes in Alaska?
Red-osier dogwood, Western serviceberry, Salal, Salmonberry, Bearberry, Crowberry are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
Sources
- Varied Thrush — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Varied Thrush life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Varied Thrush — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- 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.