Arkansas · Winter visitor

Orange-crowned Warblers in Arkansas

When orange-crowned warblers are present in Arkansas, when they nest, which native Arkansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6b–8b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
Status in Arkansas
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 6b–8b

When to expect orange-crowned warblers in Arkansas

In Arkansas, orange-crowned warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters with occasional ice storms that make suet and sheltered feeders critical for a few days at a time.

Humid subtropical, with the Ozark and Ouachita highlands in the northwest and the flat Mississippi Delta in the east.

Native Arkansas plants that attract orange-crowned warblers

Of the regional native plants we track for Arkansas, these 8 provide food or cover orange-crowned warblers 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.

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.

Spicebush
Lindera benzoin · Shrub

Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.

Feeding orange-crowned warblers through the Arkansas year

  • Top foods: Suet, Suet dough.
  • In Arkansas's winter: Mild winters with occasional ice storms that make suet and sheltered feeders critical for a few days at a time.

Full diet breakdown for orange-crowned warblers · Best feeder for orange-crowned warblers

Frequently asked

Are orange-crowned warblers in Arkansas year-round?

No. Orange-crowned Warblers are winter visitors in Arkansas and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract orange-crowned warblers in Arkansas?

Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in Arkansas that provide food or cover for orange-crowned warblers.

Orange-crowned Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Arkansas

Northern CardinalEastern BluebirdCarolina ChickadeePurple MartinDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchTufted TitmouseWhite-breasted NuthatchBlue JayHouse FinchPurple FinchRuby-throated HummingbirdCarolina WrenMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoWhite-throated SparrowSong SparrowChipping SparrowRed-bellied WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerRed-headed WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown-headed NuthatchBrown CreeperCommon GrackleRed-winged BlackbirdOrchard OriolePine SiskinIndigo BuntingPainted BuntingEastern TowheeGray CatbirdNorthern MockingbirdBrown ThrasherCedar WaxwingBarn SwallowEastern PhoebeChimney SwiftYellow-rumped WarblerPine WarblerEastern Screech-OwlWood ThrushGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingWhite-crowned SparrowFox SparrowEurasian Collared-DoveAmerican CrowCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckWild TurkeyNorthern BobwhiteMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherScarlet TanagerEastern MeadowlarkBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenRed CrossbillField SparrowGray CatbirdLark SparrowHooded MerganserYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerYellow-throated WarblerProthonotary WarblerOvenbirdYellow-breasted ChatPalm WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoWhite-eyed VireoEastern Wood-PeweeScissor-tailed FlycatcherCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkEastern Whip-poor-willCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperAmerican WoodcockGreen HeronGreat EgretBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureBlack VultureOspreyBald EagleRed-shouldered HawkMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBarn OwlRed-cockaded WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowHarris's SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkDickcisselBlue GrosbeakWhite-winged CrossbillBrown-headed NuthatchGreater RoadrunnerYellow-billed CuckooBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdGreat-tailed GrackleRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. Orange-crowned Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Orange-crowned Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Orange-crowned Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Arkansas
  5. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  6. 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.