Yellow-rumped Warblers in Utah
When yellow-rumped warblers are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in Utah
Yellow-rumped Warblers are summer residents in Utah, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on caterpillars and flies.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, 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.
Hot, dry summers.
- Yellow-rumped Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Utah plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-rumped warblers use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the Utah year
The warbler most likely at a winter feeder; suet and wax myrtle bring them in.
- Best foods: Suet, Hulled sunflower.
- In Utah'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 Utah year-round?
No. Yellow-rumped Warblers are summer breeders in Utah and leave for the winter.
When do yellow-rumped warblers nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah 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 Utah?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.
Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
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 — Utah
- 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.