Bur oak for birds in Vermont
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Vermont, where it feeds or shelters 85 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Vermont
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Vermont birds supported
- 85
- Nesting birds among them
- 84
Growing conditions in Vermont
Humid continental, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.
Short, mild summers.
Vermont birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (35)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (49)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, 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, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, 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, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (1)
Long, snowy winters.
Nesting season it supports in Vermont
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
- Tufted Titmouse — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- Blue Jay — May–July
- American Robin — May–July
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Vermont
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 Vermont?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Vermont. Vermont spans USDA 3b–5b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Vermont?
In Vermont, Bur oak supports 85 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Vermont?
84 of those birds nest in Vermont: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Vermont?
Winter visitors Merlin use it in Vermont during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Vermont
- 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.