Loblolly pine for birds in South Carolina
Pine seed and bark insects; key habitat for Brown-headed Nuthatch. Native to South Carolina, where it feeds or shelters 97 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pinus taeda
- Native status
- Native in South Carolina
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- South Carolina birds supported
- 97
- Nesting birds among them
- 75
Growing conditions in South Carolina
Humid subtropical, from the Blue Ridge foothills to the Lowcountry marshes.
Hot, humid summers.
South Carolina birds that use Loblolly pine
Year-round residents (43)
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, 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, 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 (22)
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, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters; Lowcountry backyards host Painted Buntings in summer and many sparrows in winter.
Nesting season it supports in South Carolina
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 South Carolina
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Loblolly pine native to South Carolina?
Yes. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is recorded as native in South Carolina. South Carolina spans USDA 7a–9a.
What birds does Loblolly pine attract in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, Loblolly pine supports 97 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Loblolly pine help nesting birds in South Carolina?
75 of those birds nest in South Carolina: Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (March–June).
Which winter birds use Loblolly pine in South Carolina?
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, Swamp Sparrow, White-winged Crossbill, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in South Carolina during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — South Carolina
- 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.