Ohio · Winter visitor

Yellow-rumped Warblers in Ohio

When yellow-rumped warblers are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Status in Ohio
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 5b–7a

When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in Ohio

In Ohio, yellow-rumped warblers are winter visitors rather than breeders. Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north. While here they rely on bayberry, wax myrtle and juniper fruit.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Native Ohio plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers

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

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early fruit.

Spicebush
Lindera benzoin · Shrub

High-fat fall berries.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter cover and fruit.

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Staghorn sumac
Rhus typhina · Shrub

Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.

Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

White oak
Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the Ohio year

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

  • Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower.
  • In Ohio's winter: Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north.

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

Frequently asked

Are yellow-rumped warblers in Ohio year-round?

No. Yellow-rumped Warblers are winter visitors in Ohio and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract yellow-rumped warblers in Ohio?

Serviceberry, Spicebush, Eastern red cedar, Flowering dogwood, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak are native plants in Ohio that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Ohio

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 — Ohio
  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.