Black cherry for birds in Nebraska
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. Native to Nebraska, where it feeds or shelters 98 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus serotina
- Native status
- Native in Nebraska
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Nebraska birds supported
- 98
- Nesting birds among them
- 89
Growing conditions in Nebraska
Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.
Hot summers with thunderstorms.
Nebraska birds that use Black cherry
Year-round residents (33)
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, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (56)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed 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, Burrowing Owl, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (9)
Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl
Cold, windy winters; the Platte River corridor holds most wintering birds.
Nesting season it supports in Nebraska
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 Nebraska
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Black cherry native to Nebraska?
Yes. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is recorded as native in Nebraska. Nebraska spans USDA 4b–5b.
What birds does Black cherry attract in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, Black cherry supports 98 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Black cherry help nesting birds in Nebraska?
89 of those birds nest in Nebraska: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Black cherry in Nebraska?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl use it in Nebraska during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nebraska
- 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.