Paper birch for birds in Washington
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. Native to Washington, where it feeds or shelters 110 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Betula papyrifera
- Native status
- Native in Washington
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Washington birds supported
- 110
- Nesting birds among them
- 103
Growing conditions in Washington
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.
Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.
Washington birds that use Paper birch
Year-round residents (64)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, California Quail, Bewick's Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Brewer's Blackbird, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (39)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Kingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (7)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll
Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.
Nesting season it supports in Washington
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Paper birch:
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
- Mourning Dove — March–September
Native plants to pair with Paper birch in Washington
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Paper birch native to Washington?
Yes. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is recorded as native in Washington. Washington spans USDA 4a–9a.
What birds does Paper birch attract in Washington?
In Washington, Paper birch supports 110 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Paper birch help nesting birds in Washington?
103 of those birds nest in Washington: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Paper birch in Washington?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll use it in Washington during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Washington
- 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.