Pine Warblers in Wisconsin
When pine warblers are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in Wisconsin
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect pine warblers in Wisconsin
Pine Warblers are summer residents in Wisconsin, 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.
Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Nesting in Wisconsin
Across Wisconsin, 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.
Warm, humid summers.
- Pine Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Wisconsin plants that attract pine warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for Wisconsin, these 8 provide food or cover pine warblers use:
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.
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 Wisconsin year
Pine Warblers regularly visit suet and sunflower feeders in the Southeast in winter.
- Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower, Peanut hearts.
- In Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin year-round?
No. Pine Warblers are summer breeders in Wisconsin and leave for the winter.
When do pine warblers nest in Wisconsin?
Nesting in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for pine warblers.
Pine Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wisconsin
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 — Wisconsin
- 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.