Bur oak for birds in Nebraska
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Nebraska, where it feeds or shelters 94 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Nebraska
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Nebraska birds supported
- 94
- Nesting birds among them
- 87
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 Bur oak
Year-round residents (33)
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, Northern Mockingbird, 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, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (54)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, 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 (7)
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 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 Nebraska
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Nebraska?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Nebraska. Nebraska spans USDA 4b–5b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, Bur oak supports 94 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Nebraska?
87 of those birds nest in Nebraska: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Nebraska?
Winter visitors 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.