Bur oak for birds in Saskatchewan
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Saskatchewan, where it feeds or shelters 82 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Saskatchewan
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Saskatchewan birds supported
- 82
- Nesting birds among them
- 82
Growing conditions in Saskatchewan
Continental — prairie in the south, boreal forest in the north.
Warm, sunny summers.
Saskatchewan birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (20)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (62)
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, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Saskatchewan
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 Saskatchewan
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Saskatchewan?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan spans Canada 1a–3b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Saskatchewan?
In Saskatchewan, Bur oak supports 82 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Saskatchewan?
82 of those birds nest in Saskatchewan: 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 — Saskatchewan
- 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.