New Brunswick · Summer breeder

Palm Warblers in New Brunswick

When palm warblers are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
Status in New Brunswick
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 3a–5b

When to expect palm warblers in New Brunswick

Palm Warblers are summer residents in New Brunswick, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent.

Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.

Nesting in New Brunswick

Across New Brunswick, palm warblers typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.

Mild summers.

  • Palm Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, winterberry, staghorn sumac for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native New Brunswick plants that attract palm warblers

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

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

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.

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.

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia · Vine

Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.

Feeding palm warblers through the New Brunswick year

  • Top foods: Suet nuggets, Mealworms.
  • In New Brunswick's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

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

Frequently asked

Are palm warblers in New Brunswick year-round?

No. Palm Warblers are summer breeders in New Brunswick and leave for the winter.

When do palm warblers nest in New Brunswick?

Nesting in New Brunswick typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12 days.

What native plants attract palm warblers in New Brunswick?

Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Virginia creeper are native plants in New Brunswick that provide food or cover for palm warblers.

Palm Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in New Brunswick

Northern CardinalEastern BluebirdBlack-capped ChickadeePurple MartinDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenPurple FinchRuby-throated HummingbirdMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoWhite-throated SparrowSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperCommon GrackleRed-winged BlackbirdBaltimore OrioleRose-breasted GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinCommon RedpollIndigo BuntingGray CatbirdCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowEastern PhoebeChimney SwiftYellow-rumped WarblerGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingCanada JayAmerican CrowCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckWild TurkeyMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherScarlet TanagerBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillGray CatbirdHooded MerganserYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerOvenbirdOrange-crowned WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoEastern Wood-PeweeLeast FlycatcherCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkEastern Whip-poor-willCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperAmerican WoodcockGreen HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleRed-shouldered HawkMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBlack-backed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowSnow BuntingHorned LarkCommon RedpollHoary RedpollWhite-winged CrossbillBohemian WaxwingBobolinkRusty BlackbirdRock 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 — New Brunswick
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  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.