Yukon · Summer breeder

Varied Thrushs in Yukon

When varied thrushes are present in Yukon, when they nest, which native Yukon plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1b yard.

Thrushes (Turdidae)Varied ThrushIxoreus naevius
Status in Yukon
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1b

When to expect varied thrushes in Yukon

Varied Thrushs are summer residents in Yukon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects and earthworms.

Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.

Nesting in Yukon

Across Yukon, 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.

Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.

  • Varied Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as pin cherry, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Yukon plants that attract varied thrushes

Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 7 provide food or cover varied thrushes use:

Pin cherry
Prunus pensylvanica · Tree

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Highbush cranberry
Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · Shrub

Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.

Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum · Shrub

Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.

Feeding varied thrushes through the Yukon year

Drops into Pacific Northwest yards in snowy weather and feeds under shrubs.

  • Best foods: Millet, Suet, Fruit.
  • In Yukon'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 Yukon year-round?

No. Varied Thrushs are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.

When do varied thrushes nest in Yukon?

Nesting in Yukon 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 Yukon?

Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Western serviceberry, Bearberry, Crowberry are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for varied thrushes.

Varied Thrushs in other regions

Other backyard birds in Yukon

Sources

  1. Varied Thrush — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Varied Thrush life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Varied Thrush — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Yukon
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.