Eastern Phoebes in Maine
When eastern phoebes are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect eastern phoebes in Maine
Eastern Phoebes are summer residents in Maine, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on wasps, beetles and flies.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, eastern phoebes typically nest from May–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.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- Eastern Phoebes don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Maine plants that attract eastern phoebes
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover eastern phoebes use:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding eastern phoebes through the Maine year
One of the earliest returning migrants; phoebes nest on porch ledges and under bridges.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- In Maine's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for eastern phoebes · Best feeder for eastern phoebes
Frequently asked
Are eastern phoebes in Maine year-round?
No. Eastern Phoebes are summer breeders in Maine and leave for the winter.
When do eastern phoebes nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 15–16 days.
What native plants attract eastern phoebes in Maine?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for eastern phoebes.
Eastern Phoebes in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
Sources
- Eastern Phoebe — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Phoebe life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eastern Phoebe — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- 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.