Bur oak for birds in New Brunswick
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to New Brunswick, where it feeds or shelters 79 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in New Brunswick
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 3a–5b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- New Brunswick birds supported
- 79
- Nesting birds among them
- 79
Growing conditions in New Brunswick
Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.
Mild summers.
New Brunswick birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (24)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (55)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, 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, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in New Brunswick
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 — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–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
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in New Brunswick
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 New Brunswick?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in New Brunswick. New Brunswick spans Canada 3a–5b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in New Brunswick?
In New Brunswick, Bur oak supports 79 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in New Brunswick?
79 of those birds nest in New Brunswick: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Brunswick
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.