Western Tanager in June
Where western tanagers are in June, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
June in the Western Tanager's year
June is the height of the nesting season. Most resident and migrant species are raising young, migration is essentially over, and bird activity peaks at dawn. By late June the first fledglings of the year are everywhere — clumsy, loud, and constantly begging.
For the Western Tanager specifically, June is a summer month inside the nesting season — one of the most active and demanding periods of this bird's year. Across the 22 states and provinces where western tanagers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where western tanagers are in June
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In June, western tanagers are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in June
June is inside the Western Tanager nesting season. Nest: shallow cup far out on a conifer branch. Clutch 3–5 eggs, incubation 13 days, 1 per season.
The season is broadly synchronized across the range this month. During the nesting months, adults switch to protein-rich foods for their young, become more secretive around the nest site, and often visit feeders in quick, purposeful trips rather than lingering.
What to feed in June
- Wasps, beetles, caterpillars and bees
Drops from the treetops to oranges, jelly and birdbaths during spring migration, especially in dry country.
Expect to see adults carrying food away rather than eating it — they're feeding nestlings. Fledglings visiting feeders with their parents are a June highlight.
Full Western Tanager diet guide → · Best feeder for western tanagers →
Watching western tanagers this month
In June, the best watching is around food rather than the nest — adults make repeated foraging trips and are most visible at dawn and dusk. Give nesting birds space: if a bird is carrying food or scolding you persistently, you're close to a nest and should back off.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region western tanagers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Western Tanager month by month
Western Tanager by state
Frequently asked
Where are western tanagers in June?
In June, western tanagers are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do western tanagers nest in June?
Yes — June falls inside the Western Tanager nesting season at mid-latitudes.
What do western tanagers eat in June?
Wasps, beetles, caterpillars and bees.
Sources
- Western Tanager — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Tanager life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Tanager — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.