Loblolly pine for birds in Louisiana
Pine seed and bark insects; key habitat for Brown-headed Nuthatch. Native to Louisiana, where it feeds or shelters 101 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pinus taeda
- Native status
- Native in Louisiana
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 8a–10a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Louisiana birds supported
- 101
- Nesting birds among them
- 78
Growing conditions in Louisiana
Humid subtropical, with coastal marsh, bottomland hardwood forest and piney uplands in the north.
Very hot, humid summers and hurricane season June–November.
Louisiana birds that use Loblolly pine
Year-round residents (50)
Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbird, Gray Catbird, 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, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Gray Catbird, Hooded Merganser, Common Yellowthroat, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Greater Roadrunner, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (28)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow Warbler, 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, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (23)
House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, 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, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters make Louisiana a major wintering ground for sparrows, wrens, and even western hummingbirds.
Nesting season it supports in Louisiana
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 — 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
- Carolina Wren — March–August
- American Robin — March–July
- Red-bellied Woodpecker — March–July
Native plants to pair with Loblolly pine in Louisiana
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Frequently asked
Is Loblolly pine native to Louisiana?
Yes. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is recorded as native in Louisiana. Louisiana spans USDA 8a–10a.
What birds does Loblolly pine attract in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, Loblolly pine supports 101 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Loblolly pine help nesting birds in Louisiana?
78 of those birds nest in Louisiana: Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June).
Which winter birds use Loblolly pine in Louisiana?
Winter visitors House Wren, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, 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, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Louisiana during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Louisiana
- 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.