British Columbia · Summer breeder

Western Tanagers in British Columbia

When western tanagers 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.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana

Status in British Columbia: Summer breeder
Nesting window: June–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–9a

When to expect western tanagers in British Columbia

Western Tanagers are summer residents in British Columbia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.

Nesting in British Columbia

Across British Columbia, western tanagers typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.

Western Tanagers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, paper birch, pin cherry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native British Columbia plants that attract western tanagers

Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover western tanagers use:

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

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.

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Feeding western tanagers through the British Columbia year

Top foods: Orange halves, Grape jelly (during migration).
In British Columbia's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for western tanagers · Best feeder for western tanagers

Frequently asked

Are western tanagers in British Columbia year-round?

No. Western Tanagers are summer breeders in British Columbia and leave for the winter.

When do western tanagers nest in British Columbia?

Nesting in British Columbia typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 13 days.

What native plants attract western tanagers in British Columbia?

Smooth sumac, Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for western tanagers.

Western Tanagers in other regions

Alberta Arizona California Colorado Idaho Kansas Manitoba Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Northwest Territories Oklahoma Oregon Saskatchewan South Dakota Utah Washington Wyoming Yukon

Other backyard birds in British Columbia

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Lark Sparrow Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.