Eastern white pine for birds in Tennessee
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter. Native to Tennessee, where it feeds or shelters 97 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pinus strobus
- Native status
- Native in Tennessee
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Tennessee birds supported
- 97
- Nesting birds among them
- 78
Growing conditions in Tennessee
Humid subtropical, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River floodplain.
Hot, humid summers in the valleys.
Tennessee birds that use Eastern white pine
Year-round residents (43)
Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Brown-headed Nuthatch
Summer breeders (35)
Purple Martin, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (19)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Red Crossbill, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round.
Nesting season it supports in Tennessee
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Eastern white pine:
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- Carolina Wren — April–August
- American Robin — April–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
Native plants to pair with Eastern white pine in Tennessee
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Frequently asked
Is Eastern white pine native to Tennessee?
Yes. Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is recorded as native in Tennessee. Tennessee spans USDA 6a–8a.
What birds does Eastern white pine attract in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, Eastern white pine supports 97 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Eastern white pine help nesting birds in Tennessee?
78 of those birds nest in Tennessee: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Eastern white pine in Tennessee?
Winter visitors Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Red Crossbill, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Tennessee during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Tennessee
- 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.