Nevada · Summer breeder

Yellow-rumped Warblers in Nevada

When yellow-rumped warblers are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Status in Nevada
Summer breeder
Nesting window
May–July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 4a–10a

When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in Nevada

Yellow-rumped Warblers are summer residents in Nevada, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars and flies.

Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.

Nesting in Nevada

Across Nevada, yellow-rumped warblers typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup on a horizontal conifer branch. Females lay 1–6 eggs, incubate for 12–13 days, and young leave the nest after 10–14 days.

Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.

  • Yellow-rumped Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, red-osier dogwood, rocky mountain juniper for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nevada plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-rumped warblers use:

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Golden currant
Ribes aureum · Shrub

Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.

Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the Nevada year

The warbler most likely at a winter feeder; suet and wax myrtle bring them in.

  • Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower.
  • In Nevada's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for yellow-rumped warblers · Best feeder for yellow-rumped warblers

Frequently asked

Are yellow-rumped warblers in Nevada year-round?

No. Yellow-rumped Warblers are summer breeders in Nevada and leave for the winter.

When do yellow-rumped warblers nest in Nevada?

Nesting in Nevada typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–6 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days.

What native plants attract yellow-rumped warblers in Nevada?

Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nevada

Sources

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