Black cherry for birds in Iowa
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. Native to Iowa, where it feeds or shelters 94 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus serotina
- Native status
- Native in Iowa
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–6a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Iowa birds supported
- 94
- Nesting birds among them
- 83
Growing conditions in Iowa
Humid continental prairie state, with loess hills in the west and the Driftless Area in the northeast.
Hot, humid summers with thunderstorms.
Iowa birds that use Black cherry
Year-round residents (31)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, 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, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (52)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, 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, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed 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, Swamp Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (11)
Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Bohemian Waxwing
Cold, windy winters; open farmland makes backyard shelter and feeders a lifeline.
Nesting season it supports in Iowa
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Black cherry:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–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 Black cherry in Iowa
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Black cherry native to Iowa?
Yes. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is recorded as native in Iowa. Iowa spans USDA 4b–6a.
What birds does Black cherry attract in Iowa?
In Iowa, Black cherry supports 94 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Black cherry help nesting birds in Iowa?
83 of those birds nest in Iowa: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Black cherry in Iowa?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Iowa during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Iowa
- 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.