Varied Thrushs in Washington
When varied thrushes are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Washington
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect varied thrushes in Washington
Varied Thrushs live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward madrone, snowberry and acorns.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Nesting in Washington
Across Washington, 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.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
- 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 Washington plants that attract varied thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, 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.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Feeding varied thrushes through the Washington year
Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.
- Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
- In Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.
Full diet breakdown for varied thrushes · Best feeder for varied thrushes
Frequently asked
Are varied thrushes in Washington year-round?
Yes. Varied Thrushs are year-round residents in Washington.
When do varied thrushes nest in Washington?
Nesting in Washington 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 Washington?
Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Oregon white oak are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.
Varied Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Washington
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 — Washington
- 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.