Douglas fir for birds in Washington
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. Native to Washington, where it feeds or shelters 87 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Native status
- Native in Washington
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Washington birds supported
- 87
- Nesting birds among them
- 83
Growing conditions in Washington
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
Washington birds that use Douglas fir
Year-round residents (50)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, 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, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Red Crossbill, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird
Summer breeders (33)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, 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 (4)
Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.
Nesting season it supports in Washington
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Douglas fir:
- 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
- American Robin — April–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Northern Flicker — April–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — April–June
Native plants to pair with Douglas fir in Washington
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Douglas fir native to Washington?
Yes. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is recorded as native in Washington. Washington spans USDA 4a–9a.
What birds does Douglas fir attract in Washington?
In Washington, Douglas fir supports 87 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Douglas fir help nesting birds in Washington?
83 of those birds nest in Washington: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Douglas fir in Washington?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Common Redpoll use it in Washington during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Washington
- 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.