On the central Appalachian Plateau, evergreen trees and shrubs often dominate riparian vegetation. In contrast, deciduous trees dominate upland forests. To evaluate an important aspect of habitat suitability for Neotropical migratory birds, we placed artificial nests baited with a Japanese quail (Corturnix coturnix japonica) egg at regular intervals along successively upland transects paralleling Poplar Lick Run and Little Savage River, Garrett County, Maryland. Nests were alternated between 0–0.5 m and 1–2 m heights and were exposed for 12 days during each of four trials in 1990, and 12 days during each of six trials in 1991. Egg predation was typically higher within 50 m of these streams than farther from them. Although artificial nests may not truly represent natural nests and the losses incurred by nesting birds, our results should alert land managers and conservationists to a potential problem and stimulate further research into the suitability of existing, evergreen riparian zones for nesting Neotropical migrants.