Wood Thrushs in Quebec
When wood thrushes are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.
- Status in Quebec
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
When to expect wood thrushes in Quebec
Wood Thrushs are summer residents in Quebec, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, ants and caterpillars.
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Nesting in Quebec
Across Quebec, wood thrushes typically nest from June–July. Nest site: mud-lined cup in understory saplings. Females lay 3–4 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–15 days.
Warm, humid summers in the south.
- Wood Thrushs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, winterberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Quebec plants that attract wood thrushes
Of the regional native plants we track for Quebec, these 8 provide food or cover wood thrushes use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding wood thrushes through the Quebec year
Needs shady, moist woodland with leaf litter; declining by more than half since 1966.
- Best foods: .
- In Quebec's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for wood thrushes · Best feeder for wood thrushes
Frequently asked
Are wood thrushes in Quebec year-round?
No. Wood Thrushs are summer breeders in Quebec and leave for the winter.
When do wood thrushes nest in Quebec?
Nesting in Quebec typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–4 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract wood thrushes in Quebec?
Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in Quebec that provide food or cover for wood thrushes.
Wood Thrushs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Quebec
Sources
- Wood Thrush — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wood Thrush life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wood Thrush — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Quebec
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.