Chokecherry for birds in California
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to California, where it feeds or shelters 101 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in California
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- California birds supported
- 101
- Nesting birds among them
- 97
Growing conditions in California
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
California birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (73)
Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, Fox Sparrow, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Hooded Oriole, Phainopepla, California Thrasher, Yellow-billed Magpie, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Band-tailed Pigeon, Common Yellowthroat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermilion Flycatcher, Killdeer, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (24)
Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (4)
Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.
Nesting season it supports in California
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Chokecherry:
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Wren — April–August
- House Finch — March–August
- Purple Finch — April–July
- American Robin — March–July
- Song Sparrow — March–August
- Northern Flicker — March–June
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in California
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to California?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in California. California spans USDA 5a–11a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in California?
In California, Chokecherry supports 101 backyard birds, including Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in California?
97 of those birds nest in California: Purple Martin (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June), Hairy Woodpecker (March–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (March–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in California?
Winter visitors Cedar Waxwing, Varied Thrush, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin use it in California during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- 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.