Douglas fir for birds in Arizona
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. Native to Arizona, where it feeds or shelters 93 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Native status
- Native in Arizona
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–10b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Arizona birds supported
- 93
- Nesting birds among them
- 82
Growing conditions in Arizona
Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.
Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
Arizona birds that use Douglas fir
Year-round residents (56)
Eastern Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, 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, Hooded Oriole, Pinyon Jay, Western Screech-Owl, Vermilion Flycatcher, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (26)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, 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)
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Red Crossbill, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.
Nesting season it supports in Arizona
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Douglas fir:
- Eastern Bluebird — March–August
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Wren — April–August
- American Robin — March–July
- Song Sparrow — March–August
- Northern Flicker — March–June
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- Brown Creeper — April–June
Native plants to pair with Douglas fir in Arizona
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Douglas fir native to Arizona?
Yes. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is recorded as native in Arizona. Arizona spans USDA 4b–10b.
What birds does Douglas fir attract in Arizona?
In Arizona, Douglas fir supports 93 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin.
Does Douglas fir help nesting birds in Arizona?
82 of those birds nest in Arizona: Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Purple Martin (April–July), Hairy Woodpecker (March–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (March–June).
Which winter birds use Douglas fir in Arizona?
Winter visitors Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Red Crossbill, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird use it in Arizona during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- 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.