Eastern Kingbirds in New York
When eastern kingbirds are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect eastern kingbirds in New York
Eastern Kingbirds are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on bees, wasps and beetles.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, eastern kingbirds typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup on horizontal tree limbs, often over water. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 14–17 days, and young leave the nest after 16–17 days.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Eastern Kingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract eastern kingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover eastern kingbirds use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Feeding eastern kingbirds through the New York year
Kingbirds fearlessly chase hawks and crows; they perch on fences over open fields.
- Best foods: .
- In New York's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are eastern kingbirds in New York year-round?
No. Eastern Kingbirds are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do eastern kingbirds nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 14–17 days.
What native plants attract eastern kingbirds in New York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for eastern kingbirds.
Eastern Kingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
Sources
- Eastern Kingbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Kingbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Kingbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.