Chokecherry for birds in Oregon
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Oregon, where it feeds or shelters 90 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Oregon
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Oregon birds supported
- 90
- Nesting birds among them
- 87
Growing conditions in Oregon
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.
Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.
Oregon birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (54)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Black Phoebe, Bewick's Wren, Fox Sparrow, Varied Thrush, 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, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Band-tailed Pigeon, Killdeer, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird
Summer breeders (33)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (3)
Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Nesting season it supports in Oregon
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
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
- American Robin — April–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Oregon
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Oregon?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Oregon. Oregon spans USDA 4b–9b.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Oregon?
In Oregon, Chokecherry supports 90 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Oregon?
87 of those birds nest in Oregon: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in Oregon?
Winter visitors Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Oregon during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oregon
- 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.