Varied Thrushs in Alberta
When varied thrushes are present in Alberta, when they nest, which native Alberta plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 2a–4b yard.
- Status in Alberta
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
When to expect varied thrushes in Alberta
Varied Thrushs are summer residents in Alberta, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects and earthworms.
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Nesting in Alberta
Across Alberta, 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.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
- Varied Thrushs 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 Alberta plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Alberta, these 8 provide food or cover varied thrushes use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Feeding varied thrushes through the Alberta year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In Alberta'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 Alberta year-round?
No. Varied Thrushs are summer breeders in Alberta and leave for the winter.
When do varied thrushes nest in Alberta?
Nesting in Alberta 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 Alberta?
Smooth sumac, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Alberta that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alberta
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 — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.