Varied Thrushs in Idaho
When varied thrushes are present in Idaho, when they nest, which native Idaho plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in Idaho
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect varied thrushes in Idaho
Varied Thrushs are summer residents in Idaho, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects and earthworms.
Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.
Nesting in Idaho
Across Idaho, varied thrushes typically nest from May–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.
Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
- Varied Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Idaho plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Idaho, these 8 provide food or cover varied thrushes use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
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 Idaho year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In Idaho'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 Idaho year-round?
No. Varied Thrushs are summer breeders in Idaho and leave for the winter.
When do varied thrushes nest in Idaho?
Nesting in Idaho typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract varied thrushes in Idaho?
Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Idaho that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Idaho
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 — Idaho
- 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.