Eastern Phoebes in Maryland
When eastern phoebes are present in Maryland, when they nest, which native Maryland plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Maryland
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect eastern phoebes in Maryland
Eastern Phoebes are summer residents in Maryland, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on wasps, beetles and flies.
Humid subtropical on the Chesapeake coastal plain, cooler in the Appalachian west.
Nesting in Maryland
Across Maryland, eastern phoebes typically nest from April–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 around the Chesapeake.
- 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 Maryland plants that attract eastern phoebes
Of the regional native plants we track for Maryland, these 8 provide food or cover eastern phoebes use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
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 Maryland year
One of the earliest returning migrants; phoebes nest on porch ledges and under bridges.
- Best foods: Mealworms.
- In Maryland'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 Maryland year-round?
No. Eastern Phoebes are summer breeders in Maryland and leave for the winter.
When do eastern phoebes nest in Maryland?
Nesting in Maryland typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 15–16 days.
What native plants attract eastern phoebes in Maryland?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Maryland that provide food or cover for eastern phoebes.
Eastern Phoebes in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maryland
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 — Maryland
- 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.