Quebec · Summer breeder

Yellow-rumped Warblers in Quebec

When yellow-rumped warblers are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Status in Quebec
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–5b

When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in Quebec

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

Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.

Nesting in Quebec

Across Quebec, yellow-rumped warblers typically nest from June–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.

Warm, humid summers in the south.

  • Yellow-rumped Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, winterberry for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Quebec plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers

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

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

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.

Bur oak
Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry
Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the Quebec year

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

  • Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower.
  • In Quebec'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 Quebec year-round?

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

When do yellow-rumped warblers nest in Quebec?

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

What native plants attract yellow-rumped warblers in Quebec?

Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in Quebec that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Quebec

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 — Quebec
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  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.