Georgia · Year-round resident

Eastern Phoebes in Georgia

When eastern phoebes are present in Georgia, when they nest, which native Georgia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe

Status in Georgia: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 7a–9a

When to expect eastern phoebes in Georgia

Eastern Phoebes live in Georgia all year. Mild winters bring irregular purple finch and pine-siskin irruptions from the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward berries in the southern winter.

Humid subtropical, with cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.

Nesting in Georgia

Across Georgia, eastern phoebes typically nest from March–July. Nest site: mud-and-moss cup on a ledge under an overhang. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 15–16 days, and young leave the nest after 16–20 days.

Hot, humid summers; bluebirds can raise three broods but boxes in full sun overheat.

Eastern Phoebes don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Georgia plants that attract eastern phoebes

Of the regional native plants we track for Georgia, these 8 provide food or cover eastern phoebes use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

High-fat fall fruit critical before migration and winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Supports hundreds of caterpillar species used to feed nestlings.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Feeding eastern phoebes through the Georgia year

One of the earliest returning migrants; phoebes nest on porch ledges and under bridges.

Best foods: Mealworms.
In Georgia's winter: Mild winters bring irregular purple finch and pine-siskin irruptions from the north.

Full diet breakdown for eastern phoebes · Best feeder for eastern phoebes

Frequently asked

Are eastern phoebes in Georgia year-round?

Yes. Eastern Phoebes are year-round residents in Georgia.

When do eastern phoebes nest in Georgia?

Nesting in Georgia typically runs March–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 15–16 days.

What native plants attract eastern phoebes in Georgia?

Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Georgia that provide food or cover for eastern phoebes.

Other backyard birds in Georgia

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird House Sparrow European Starling Rufous Hummingbird White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.