Oregon white oak for birds in British Columbia
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest. Native to British Columbia, where it feeds or shelters 86 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus garryana
- Native status
- Native in British Columbia
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- British Columbia birds supported
- 86
- Nesting birds among them
- 86
Growing conditions in British Columbia
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
British Columbia birds that use Oregon white oak
Year-round residents (36)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Varied Thrush, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Western Screech-Owl, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (50)
House Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wood Duck, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in British Columbia
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Oregon white oak:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
Native plants to pair with Oregon white oak in British Columbia
Frequently asked
Is Oregon white oak native to British Columbia?
Yes. Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) is recorded as native in British Columbia. British Columbia spans Canada 1a–9a.
What birds does Oregon white oak attract in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, Oregon white oak supports 86 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin.
Does Oregon white oak help nesting birds in British Columbia?
86 of those birds nest in British Columbia: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.