Bur oak for birds in Montana
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Montana, where it feeds or shelters 83 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Montana
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Montana birds supported
- 83
- Nesting birds among them
- 82
Growing conditions in Montana
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
Montana birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (37)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Screech-Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird
Summer breeders (45)
House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Varied Thrush, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (1)
Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Nesting season it supports in Montana
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Bur oak:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Red-headed Woodpecker — June–July
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Montana
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Montana?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Montana. Montana spans USDA 3a–6a.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Montana?
In Montana, Bur oak supports 83 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Montana?
82 of those birds nest in Montana: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Montana?
Winter visitors Hooded Merganser use it in Montana during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- 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.