Loblolly pine for birds in Delaware
Pine seed and bark insects; key habitat for Brown-headed Nuthatch. Native to Delaware, where it feeds or shelters 93 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pinus taeda
- Native status
- Native in Delaware
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–8a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Delaware birds supported
- 93
- Nesting birds among them
- 77
Growing conditions in Delaware
Humid subtropical to temperate coastal plain between Delaware Bay and the Atlantic.
Hot, humid summers; bay-shore woodlots are important migrant stopovers in May.
Delaware birds that use Loblolly pine
Year-round residents (36)
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, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Brown-headed Nuthatch
Summer breeders (41)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Pine Warbler, 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, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (16)
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, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters with modest snow; coastal marshes draw huge numbers of wintering sparrows and blackbirds.
Nesting season it supports in Delaware
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Loblolly 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
- House Wren — May–August
- Carolina Wren — April–August
- American Robin — April–July
Native plants to pair with Loblolly pine in Delaware
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 Loblolly pine native to Delaware?
Yes. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is recorded as native in Delaware. Delaware spans USDA 7a–8a.
What birds does Loblolly pine attract in Delaware?
In Delaware, Loblolly pine supports 93 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Loblolly pine help nesting birds in Delaware?
77 of those birds nest in Delaware: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Loblolly pine in Delaware?
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, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Rusty Blackbird use it in Delaware during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Delaware
- 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.