Pine Warblers in Minnesota
When pine warblers are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect pine warblers in Minnesota
Pine Warblers are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars and beetles in pines.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, pine warblers typically nest from May–June. Nest site: cup high on a pine branch. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 10–13 days, and young leave the nest after 10 days.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Pine Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Minnesota plants that attract pine warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover pine warblers use:
Acorns and bark insects.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Feeding pine warblers through the Minnesota year
Pine Warblers regularly visit suet and sunflower feeders in the Southeast in winter.
- Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower, Peanut hearts.
- In Minnesota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for pine warblers · Best feeder for pine warblers
Frequently asked
Are pine warblers in Minnesota year-round?
No. Pine Warblers are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do pine warblers nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs May–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days.
What native plants attract pine warblers in Minnesota?
Bur oak, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for pine warblers.
Pine Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
Sources
- Pine Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Minnesota
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.