Louisiana · Winter visitor

Orange-crowned Warblers in Louisiana

When orange-crowned warblers are present in Louisiana, when they nest, which native Louisiana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 8a–10a yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
Status in Louisiana
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 8a–10a

When to expect orange-crowned warblers in Louisiana

In Louisiana, orange-crowned warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters make Louisiana a major wintering ground for sparrows, wrens, and even western hummingbirds.

Humid subtropical, with coastal marsh, bottomland hardwood forest and piney uplands in the north.

Native Louisiana plants that attract orange-crowned warblers

Of the regional native plants we track for Louisiana, 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 Louisiana year

  • Top foods: Suet, Suet dough.
  • In Louisiana's winter: Mild winters make Louisiana a major wintering ground for sparrows, wrens, and even western hummingbirds.

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

Frequently asked

Are orange-crowned warblers in Louisiana year-round?

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

What native plants attract orange-crowned warblers in Louisiana?

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

Orange-crowned Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Louisiana

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 HummingbirdWhite-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 OwlBurrowing OwlRed-cockaded WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkDickcisselBlue GrosbeakWhite-winged CrossbillBrown-headed NuthatchGreater RoadrunnerYellow-billed CuckooBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdBoat-tailed GrackleGreat-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 — Louisiana
  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.