Yellow-rumped Warblers in New Jersey
When yellow-rumped warblers are present in New Jersey, when they nest, which native New Jersey plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–7b yard.
- Status in New Jersey
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–7b
When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in New Jersey
In New Jersey, yellow-rumped warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds. While here they rely on bayberry, wax myrtle and juniper fruit.
Humid continental to subtropical, from the Highlands in the north to the Pine Barrens and Cape May.
Native New Jersey plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for New Jersey, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-rumped warblers use:
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.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the New Jersey year
The warbler most likely at a winter feeder; suet and wax myrtle bring them in.
- Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower.
- In New Jersey's winter: Moderate winters; Cape May and the shore hold many half-hardy birds.
Full diet breakdown for yellow-rumped warblers · Best feeder for yellow-rumped warblers
Frequently asked
Are yellow-rumped warblers in New Jersey year-round?
No. Yellow-rumped Warblers are winter visitors in New Jersey and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract yellow-rumped warblers in New Jersey?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry are native plants in New Jersey that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.
Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Jersey
Sources
- Yellow-rumped Warbler — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-rumped Warbler life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-rumped Warbler — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Jersey
- 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.