Varied Thrushs in Montana
When varied thrushes are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect varied thrushes in Montana
Varied Thrushs are summer residents in Montana, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects and earthworms.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, 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, dry summers and a short growing season.
- Varied Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, bur oak, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Montana plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover varied thrushes use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
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.
Feeding varied thrushes through the Montana year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In Montana'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 Montana year-round?
No. Varied Thrushs are summer breeders in Montana and leave for the winter.
When do varied thrushes nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana 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 Montana?
Smooth sumac, Bur oak, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.