Pine Warblers in New York
When pine warblers are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect pine warblers in New York
Pine Warblers are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars and beetles in pines.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, pine warblers typically nest from April–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.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Pine Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native New York plants that attract pine warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover pine warblers use:
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
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.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding pine warblers through the New York year
Pine Warblers regularly visit suet and sunflower feeders in the Southeast in winter.
- Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower, Peanut hearts.
- In New York'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 New York year-round?
No. Pine Warblers are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do pine warblers nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days.
What native plants attract pine warblers in New York?
Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for pine warblers.
Pine Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.