Arrowwood viburnum for birds in Michigan
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover. Native to Michigan, where it feeds or shelters 96 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Viburnum dentatum
- Native status
- Native in Michigan
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–6b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Michigan birds supported
- 96
- Nesting birds among them
- 91
Growing conditions in Michigan
Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.
A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.
Michigan birds that use Arrowwood viburnum
Year-round residents (35)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (56)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (5)
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing
Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south.
Nesting season it supports in Michigan
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Arrowwood viburnum:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
Native plants to pair with Arrowwood viburnum in Michigan
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Arrowwood viburnum native to Michigan?
Yes. Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is recorded as native in Michigan. Michigan spans USDA 4a–6b.
What birds does Arrowwood viburnum attract in Michigan?
In Michigan, Arrowwood viburnum supports 96 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Arrowwood viburnum help nesting birds in Michigan?
91 of those birds nest in Michigan: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Arrowwood viburnum in Michigan?
Winter visitors Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Michigan during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Michigan
- 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.