Wyoming · Summer breeder

Yellow-rumped Warblers in Wyoming

When yellow-rumped warblers are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.

Wood-warblers (Parulidae)Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata
Status in Wyoming
Summer breeder
Nesting window
June–July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 3a–5b

When to expect yellow-rumped warblers in Wyoming

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

Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.

Nesting in Wyoming

Across Wyoming, 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.

Short, warm summers with cool nights.

  • Yellow-rumped Warblers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, bur oak, chokecherry for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Wyoming plants that attract yellow-rumped warblers

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

Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Bur oak
Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

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

New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

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.

Common hackberry
Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

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

Feeding yellow-rumped warblers through the Wyoming year

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

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

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

When do yellow-rumped warblers nest in Wyoming?

Nesting in Wyoming 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 Wyoming?

Smooth sumac, Bur oak, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for yellow-rumped warblers.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in other regions

Other backyard birds in Wyoming

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 — Wyoming
  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.