Wyoming · Summer breeder

Orange-crowned Warblers in Wyoming

When orange-crowned warblers are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
Status in Wyoming
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 3a–5b

When to expect orange-crowned warblers in Wyoming

Orange-crowned Warblers are summer residents in Wyoming, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, orange-crowned warblers typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

  • Orange-crowned Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, chokecherry, common hackberry for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Wyoming plants that attract orange-crowned warblers

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

Bur oak
Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

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

New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Common hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding orange-crowned warblers through the Wyoming year

  • Top foods: Suet, Suet dough.
  • In Wyoming'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 Wyoming year-round?

No. Orange-crowned Warblers are summer breeders in Wyoming and leave for the winter.

When do orange-crowned warblers nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?

Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for orange-crowned warblers.

Orange-crowned Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

Black-capped ChickadeeDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenBlue JayHouse FinchMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperCommon GrackleRed-winged BlackbirdEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinCommon RedpollGray CatbirdBrown ThrasherCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowYellow-rumped WarblerEastern Screech-OwlEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingSteller's JayWoodhouse's Scrub-JayBlack-billed MagpieCanada JayMountain ChickadeeBushtitJuniper TitmousePygmy NuthatchBlack-chinned HummingbirdBroad-tailed HummingbirdLesser GoldfinchCassin's FinchSpotted TowheeMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeWhite-crowned SparrowFox SparrowViolet-green SwallowBlack-headed GrosbeakLazuli BuntingBullock's OrioleEurasian Collared-DoveAmerican CrowCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWild TurkeyMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillGray CatbirdWestern TanagerBlack-throated SparrowLark SparrowGreen-tailed TowheePinyon JayClark's NutcrackerWestern Screech-OwlHooded MerganserBand-tailed PigeonYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartYellow-breasted ChatRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoLeast FlycatcherWestern KingbirdAsh-throated FlycatcherCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBurrowing OwlLewis's WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowVesper SparrowSnow BuntingLapland LongspurHorned LarkCommon RedpollWhite-winged CrossbillGray-crowned Rosy-FinchBohemian WaxwingBobolinkYellow-headed BlackbirdBrewer's BlackbirdRock 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 — Wyoming
  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.