Bur oak for birds in Quebec
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Quebec, where it feeds or shelters 85 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Quebec
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Quebec birds supported
- 85
- Nesting birds among them
- 85
Growing conditions in Quebec
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Warm, humid summers in the south.
Quebec birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (26)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Screech-Owl, 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 (59)
Eastern Bluebird, 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, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Meadowlark, 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, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Quebec
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
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- Blue Jay — May–July
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Quebec
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 Quebec?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Quebec. Quebec spans Canada 0a–5b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Quebec?
In Quebec, Bur oak supports 85 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Quebec?
85 of those birds nest in Quebec: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Quebec
- 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.