Florida · Winter visitor

Orange-crowned Warblers in Florida

When orange-crowned warblers are present in Florida, when they nest, which native Florida plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 8a–11b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
Status in Florida
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 8a–11b

When to expect orange-crowned warblers in Florida

In Florida, orange-crowned warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.

Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.

Native Florida plants that attract orange-crowned warblers

Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, these 8 provide food or cover orange-crowned warblers use:

Southern live oak
Quercus virginiana · Tree

Acorns and insect-rich bark.

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.

Feeding orange-crowned warblers through the Florida year

  • Top foods: Suet, Suet dough.
  • In Florida's winter: Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.

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

Frequently asked

Are orange-crowned warblers in Florida year-round?

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

What native plants attract orange-crowned warblers in Florida?

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

Orange-crowned Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Florida

Northern CardinalEastern BluebirdCarolina ChickadeePurple MartinDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchTufted TitmouseWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenBlue 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 WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowEastern PhoebeChimney SwiftYellow-rumped WarblerPine WarblerEastern Screech-OwlWood ThrushGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingRufous HummingbirdFox SparrowEurasian Collared-DoveWhite-winged DoveAmerican CrowCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckWild TurkeyNorthern BobwhiteMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherEastern MeadowlarkBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenRed CrossbillField SparrowGray CatbirdLark SparrowFlorida Scrub-JayHooded MerganserCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerYellow-throated WarblerProthonotary WarblerOvenbirdYellow-breasted ChatPalm WarblerWhite-eyed VireoNorthern Rough-winged SwallowCommon NighthawkEastern Whip-poor-willCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperAmerican WoodcockGreen HeronGreat EgretBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureBlack VultureOspreyBald EagleRed-shouldered HawkMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBarn OwlBurrowing OwlRed-cockaded WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkBlue GrosbeakWhite-winged CrossbillBrown-headed NuthatchYellow-billed CuckooBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdBoat-tailed GrackleRock PigeonMonk Parakeet

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 — Florida
  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.