Black cherry for birds in Vermont
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. Native to Vermont, where it feeds or shelters 90 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus serotina
- Native status
- Native in Vermont
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Vermont birds supported
- 90
- Nesting birds among them
- 87
Growing conditions in Vermont
Humid continental, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.
Short, mild summers.
Vermont birds that use Black cherry
Year-round residents (38)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, 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, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (49)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore 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, 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, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (3)
Long, snowy winters.
Nesting season it supports in Vermont
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 — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- Tufted Titmouse — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
Native plants to pair with Black cherry in Vermont
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 Vermont?
Yes. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is recorded as native in Vermont. Vermont spans USDA 3b–5b.
What birds does Black cherry attract in Vermont?
In Vermont, Black cherry supports 90 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Black cherry help nesting birds in Vermont?
87 of those birds nest in Vermont: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use Black cherry in Vermont?
Winter visitors Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Vermont during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Vermont
- 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.