How to attract vermilion flycatchers to your yard
Vermilion Flycatchers respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 6 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The Vermilion Flycatcher is a year-round resident in 4 states and provinces, including Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas — there, a yard can host it in every season. It arrives only to breed in 2, such as Nevada, Utah, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what vermilion flycatchers use
These native plants are tied to the Vermilion Flycatcher in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 5 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | Tree | 5 | Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat. |
| Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 5 | Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 5 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 4 | Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 3 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 3 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
| Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Tree | 2 | Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. |
| Palo verde Parkinsonia florida | Tree | 2 | Seed pods and insect-rich spring bloom. |
| Willow (Bebb) Salix bebbiana | Shrub | 2 | Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. |
Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives vermilion flycatchers food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Flying insects taken in low sallies near water.
- Warm months
- Flies, bees, grasshoppers and beetles
- Cold months
- Insects in mild southwestern winters
- At feeders
- None — desert water and open perches are the draw
Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. A desert oasis and park bird; males hover-display over females on spring mornings. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Small cup in a horizontal fork of a mesquite or willow.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 2–4 eggs
- Incubation
- 14–15 days
- Nestling period
- 14–16 days
- Broods per year
- 1–3 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around February in Arizona but not until March in Utah. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.
Frequently asked
What attracts vermilion flycatchers to a yard?
Food they actually eat (none — desert water and open perches are the draw), native plants such as Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, clean water and suitable nesting cover: small cup in a horizontal fork of a mesquite or willow.
What plants attract vermilion flycatchers?
Across the Vermilion Flycatcher's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting vermilion flycatchers?
Nesting starts around February in Arizona and as late as March in Utah. Have cover, water ready a month before.
Sources
- Vermilion Flycatcher — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Vermilion Flycatcher life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Vermilion Flycatcher — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- 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.