Chokecherry for birds in Idaho
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Idaho, where it feeds or shelters 86 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Idaho
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Idaho birds supported
- 86
- Nesting birds among them
- 84
Growing conditions in Idaho
Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.
Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
Idaho birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (40)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, 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 (44)
House Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Varied Thrush, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Pine Grosbeak, 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 (2)
Cold winters with inversions in the valleys; mountain finches and Bohemian Waxwings move into towns.
Nesting season it supports in Idaho
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Chokecherry:
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
- American Robin — April–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Northern Flicker — April–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — April–June
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Idaho
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Idaho?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Idaho. Idaho spans USDA 3b–7b.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Idaho?
In Idaho, Chokecherry supports 86 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Idaho?
84 of those birds nest in Idaho: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (April–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in Idaho?
Winter visitors Hooded Merganser, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Idaho during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Idaho
- 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.