Eastern Kingbirds in Pennsylvania
When eastern kingbirds are present in Pennsylvania, when they nest, which native Pennsylvania plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Pennsylvania
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
When to expect eastern kingbirds in Pennsylvania
Eastern Kingbirds are summer residents in Pennsylvania, 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; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.
Nesting in Pennsylvania
Across Pennsylvania, 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; bluebirds typically raise two broods.
- Eastern Kingbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, black cherry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Pennsylvania plants that attract eastern kingbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Pennsylvania, these 8 provide food or cover eastern kingbirds use:
Winter fruit.
Summer fruit and a major caterpillar host.
Acorns and insects.
Fall seed.
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.
Feeding eastern kingbirds through the Pennsylvania year
Kingbirds fearlessly chase hawks and crows; they perch on fences over open fields.
- Best foods: .
- In Pennsylvania's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are eastern kingbirds in Pennsylvania year-round?
No. Eastern Kingbirds are summer breeders in Pennsylvania and leave for the winter.
When do eastern kingbirds nest in Pennsylvania?
Nesting in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Winterberry, Black cherry, White oak, New England aster, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Pennsylvania that provide food or cover for eastern kingbirds.
Eastern Kingbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Pennsylvania
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 — Pennsylvania
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.