Varied Thrushs in British Columbia
When varied thrushes are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.
- Status in British Columbia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
When to expect varied thrushes in British Columbia
Varied Thrushs live in British Columbia all year. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward madrone, snowberry and acorns.
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in British Columbia
Across British Columbia, 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.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
- 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 British Columbia plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, 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 British Columbia year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Full diet breakdown for varied thrushes · Best feeder for varied thrushes
Frequently asked
Are varied thrushes in British Columbia year-round?
Yes. Varied Thrushs are year-round residents in British Columbia.
When do varied thrushes nest in British Columbia?
Nesting in British Columbia 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 British Columbia?
Smooth sumac, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in British Columbia
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 — British Columbia
- 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.