Georgia · Winter visitor

Palm Warblers in Georgia

When palm warblers are present in Georgia, when they nest, which native Georgia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
Status in Georgia
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 7a–9a

When to expect palm warblers in Georgia

In Georgia, palm warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters bring irregular purple finch and pine-siskin irruptions from the north.

Humid subtropical, with cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.

Native Georgia plants that attract palm warblers

Of the regional native plants we track for Georgia, these 8 provide food or cover palm warblers use:

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

High-fat fall fruit critical before migration and winter.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter berry-cones and dense roosting cover.

American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana · Shrub

Fall fruit.

Coral honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Nectar through spring and summer.

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries.

White oak
Quercus alba · Tree

Supports hundreds of caterpillar species used to feed nestlings.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Staghorn sumac
Rhus typhina · Shrub

Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.

Feeding palm warblers through the Georgia year

  • Top foods: Suet nuggets, Mealworms.
  • In Georgia's winter: Mild winters bring irregular purple finch and pine-siskin irruptions from the north.

Full diet breakdown for palm warblers · Best feeder for palm warblers

Frequently asked

Are palm warblers in Georgia year-round?

No. Palm Warblers are winter visitors in Georgia and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract palm warblers in Georgia?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, American beautyberry, Coral honeysuckle, Serviceberry, White oak, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Georgia that provide food or cover for palm warblers.

Palm Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Georgia

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 ChatOrange-crowned WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoWhite-eyed VireoEastern Wood-PeweeCliff 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 SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkBlue GrosbeakWhite-winged CrossbillBrown-headed NuthatchYellow-billed CuckooBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdBoat-tailed GrackleRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. Palm Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Palm Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Palm Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Georgia
  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.