Bur oak for birds in Texas
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Texas, where it feeds or shelters 123 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Texas
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6b–10a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Texas birds supported
- 123
- Nesting birds among them
- 96
Growing conditions in Texas
Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.
Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.
Texas birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (70)
Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Bushtit, Black-crested Titmouse, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Acorn Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Green Jay, Western Screech-Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, Vermilion Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Killdeer, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (26)
Purple Martin, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Hooded Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (27)
House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Woodcock, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold.
Nesting season it supports in Texas
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 — March–July
- Carolina Chickadee — March–June
- Purple Martin — March–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- Tufted Titmouse — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- Blue Jay — March–July
- Carolina Wren — March–August
- American Robin — March–July
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Texas
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Texas?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Texas. Texas spans USDA 6b–10a.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Texas?
In Texas, Bur oak supports 123 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Texas?
96 of those birds nest in Texas: Eastern Bluebird (March–July), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (March–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Texas?
Winter visitors House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, American Woodcock, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Texas during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Texas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Texas Breeding Bird Atlas — Texas A&M
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.