Live oak for birds in Mississippi
Evergreen oak with small acorns and constant insect forage. Native to Mississippi, where it feeds or shelters 98 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Mississippi
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7b–9a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Mississippi birds supported
- 98
- Nesting birds among them
- 79
Growing conditions in Mississippi
Humid subtropical, with the Delta in the northwest, piney woods in the south and a short Gulf coastline.
Long, hot, humid summers.
Mississippi birds that use Live oak
Year-round residents (47)
Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, 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, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Boat-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (32)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, 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)
House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters with rare hard freezes.
Nesting season it supports in Mississippi
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Live oak:
- Eastern Bluebird — March–August
- Carolina Chickadee — March–June
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- Tufted Titmouse — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- Blue Jay — March–July
- Carolina Wren — March–August
- American Robin — March–July
Native plants to pair with Live oak in Mississippi
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Live oak native to Mississippi?
Yes. Live oak (Quercus virginiana) is recorded as native in Mississippi. Mississippi spans USDA 7b–9a.
What birds does Live oak attract in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, Live oak supports 98 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Live oak help nesting birds in Mississippi?
79 of those birds nest in Mississippi: Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June).
Which winter birds use Live oak in Mississippi?
Winter visitors House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Mississippi during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Mississippi
- 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.