Ohio · Summer breeder

Eastern Phoebes in Ohio

When eastern phoebes are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae)Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe

Status in Ohio: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect eastern phoebes in Ohio

Eastern Phoebes are summer residents in Ohio, 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 continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Nesting in Ohio

Across Ohio, 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.

Warm, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

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

Native Ohio plants that attract eastern phoebes

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

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early fruit.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

High-fat fall berries.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

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

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

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.

Feeding eastern phoebes through the Ohio year

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

Best foods: Mealworms.
In Ohio'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 Ohio year-round?

No. Eastern Phoebes are summer breeders in Ohio and leave for the winter.

When do eastern phoebes nest in Ohio?

Nesting in Ohio 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 Ohio?

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

Other backyard birds in Ohio

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee 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 Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling 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.