Live oak for birds in Oklahoma
Evergreen oak with small acorns and constant insect forage. Native to Oklahoma, where it feeds or shelters 111 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Oklahoma
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Oklahoma birds supported
- 111
- Nesting birds among them
- 97
Growing conditions in Oklahoma
Humid in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.
Hot summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.
Oklahoma birds that use Live oak
Year-round residents (49)
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, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Bushtit, Black-crested Titmouse, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Greater Roadrunner, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (48)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (14)
Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mountain Bluebird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters with occasional severe ice storms.
Nesting season it supports in Oklahoma
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 — 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
- House Wren — May–August
- Blue Jay — April–July
- Carolina Wren — April–August
Native plants to pair with Live oak in Oklahoma
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Live oak native to Oklahoma?
Yes. Live oak (Quercus virginiana) is recorded as native in Oklahoma. Oklahoma spans USDA 6a–8a.
What birds does Live oak attract in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, Live oak supports 111 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Live oak help nesting birds in Oklahoma?
97 of those birds nest in Oklahoma: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Live oak in Oklahoma?
Winter visitors Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mountain Bluebird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird use it in Oklahoma during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oklahoma
- 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.