Chokecherry for birds in Montana
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Montana, where it feeds or shelters 88 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Montana
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Montana birds supported
- 88
- Nesting birds among them
- 86
Growing conditions in Montana
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
Montana birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (38)
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, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, 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 (48)
House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, 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)
Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Nesting season it supports in Montana
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 — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Montana
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Montana?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Montana. Montana spans USDA 3a–6a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Montana?
In Montana, Chokecherry supports 88 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Montana?
86 of those birds nest in Montana: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in Montana?
Winter visitors Hooded Merganser, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Montana during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Montana
- 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.