Chokecherry for birds in Utah
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Utah, where it feeds or shelters 92 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Utah
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Utah birds supported
- 92
- Nesting birds among them
- 90
Growing conditions in Utah
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Hot, dry summers.
Utah birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (49)
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, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Phainopepla, 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, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (41)
House Wren, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, 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, Vermilion Flycatcher, 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 valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Nesting season it supports in Utah
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
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Utah
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Utah?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Utah. Utah spans USDA 4a–9a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Utah?
In Utah, Chokecherry supports 92 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Utah?
90 of those birds nest in Utah: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (April–June).
Which winter birds use Chokecherry in Utah?
Winter visitors Hooded Merganser, Bohemian Waxwing use it in Utah during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Utah
- 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.