Mississippi · Year-round resident

Eastern Phoebes in Mississippi

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

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe

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

When to expect eastern phoebes in Mississippi

Eastern Phoebes live in Mississippi all year. Mild winters with rare hard freezes. 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 the Delta in the northwest, piney woods in the south and a short Gulf coastline.

Nesting in Mississippi

Across Mississippi, 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.

Long, hot, humid summers.

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 Mississippi plants that attract eastern phoebes

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

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

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 Mississippi year

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

Best foods: Mealworms.
In Mississippi's winter: Mild winters with rare hard freezes.

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

Frequently asked

Are eastern phoebes in Mississippi year-round?

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

When do eastern phoebes nest in Mississippi?

Nesting in Mississippi 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 Mississippi?

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

Other backyard birds in Mississippi

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.