Bur oak for birds in Wyoming
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load. Native to Wyoming, where it feeds or shelters 81 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus macrocarpa
- Native status
- Native in Wyoming
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Wyoming birds supported
- 81
- Nesting birds among them
- 80
Growing conditions in Wyoming
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Short, warm summers with cool nights.
Wyoming birds that use Bur oak
Year-round residents (38)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Screech-Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird
Summer breeders (42)
House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (1)
Cold, very windy winters.
Nesting season it supports in Wyoming
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Bur oak:
- 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
- Red-headed Woodpecker — June–July
Native plants to pair with Bur oak in Wyoming
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Bur oak native to Wyoming?
Yes. Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) is recorded as native in Wyoming. Wyoming spans USDA 3a–5b.
What birds does Bur oak attract in Wyoming?
In Wyoming, Bur oak supports 81 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Blue Jay.
Does Bur oak help nesting birds in Wyoming?
80 of those birds nest in Wyoming: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Which winter birds use Bur oak in Wyoming?
Winter visitors Hooded Merganser use it in Wyoming during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wyoming
- 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.