Chokecherry for birds in New Mexico
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to New Mexico, where it feeds or shelters 95 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in New Mexico
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- New Mexico birds supported
- 95
- Nesting birds among them
- 84
Growing conditions in New Mexico
Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.
Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.
New Mexico birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (54)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Phainopepla, Western Screech-Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Vermilion Flycatcher, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (30)
House Wren, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (11)
Cedar Waxwing, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.
Nesting season it supports in New Mexico
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Chokecherry:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- 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
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in New Mexico
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Thorny cover with orange fruit favored by thrashers and cardinals.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to New Mexico?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in New Mexico. New Mexico spans USDA 4b–9a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, Chokecherry supports 95 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in New Mexico?
84 of those birds nest in New Mexico: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in New Mexico?
Winter visitors Cedar Waxwing, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird use it in New Mexico during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Mexico
- 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.