Orange-crowned Warblers in Alaska
When orange-crowned warblers are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
When to expect orange-crowned warblers in Alaska
Orange-crowned Warblers are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, orange-crowned warblers typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Orange-crowned Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, white spruce, tamarack for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alaska plants that attract orange-crowned warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 5 provide food or cover orange-crowned warblers use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding orange-crowned warblers through the Alaska year
- Top foods: Suet, Suet dough.
- In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for orange-crowned warblers · Best feeder for orange-crowned warblers
Frequently asked
Are orange-crowned warblers in Alaska year-round?
No. Orange-crowned Warblers are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do orange-crowned warblers nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract orange-crowned warblers in Alaska?
Paper birch, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for orange-crowned warblers.
Orange-crowned Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
Sources
- Orange-crowned Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Orange-crowned Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Orange-crowned Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- 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.