Colorado · Summer breeder

Western Tanagers in Colorado

When western tanagers are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana

Status in Colorado: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3a–7b

When to expect western tanagers in Colorado

Western Tanagers are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent.

Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.

Nesting in Colorado

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

Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.

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

Native Colorado plants that attract western tanagers

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

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Virginia creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia · Vine

Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in 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.

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

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

Feeding western tanagers through the Colorado year

Top foods: Orange halves, Grape jelly (during migration).
In Colorado'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 Colorado year-round?

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

When do western tanagers nest in Colorado?

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

What native plants attract western tanagers in Colorado?

Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for western tanagers.

Western Tanagers in other regions

Alberta Arizona British Columbia California 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 Colorado

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Gambel's Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Ladder-backed Woodpecker Curve-billed Thrasher Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow 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 Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Greater Roadrunner Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle 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.