Bur oak for birds in Iowa
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Iowa, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Iowa
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–6a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Iowa birds supported
- 89
- Nesting birds among them
- 82
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 Bur oak
Year-round residents (31)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (51)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, 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 (7)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl
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 Bur oak:
- 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
- Blue Jay — April–July
- Carolina Wren — April–August
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Iowa
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Iowa?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Iowa. Iowa spans USDA 4b–6a.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Iowa?
In Iowa, Bur oak supports 89 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Iowa?
82 of those birds nest in Iowa: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Iowa?
Winter visitors Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl 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.