Red maple for birds in Illinois
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants. Native to Illinois, where it feeds or shelters 125 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer rubrum
- Native status
- Native in Illinois
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Illinois birds supported
- 125
- Nesting birds among them
- 106
Growing conditions in Illinois
Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.
Hot, humid summers; much of the state is farmland, so backyard native plantings matter.
Illinois birds that use Red maple
Year-round residents (50)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon, Monk Parakeet, Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Summer breeders (56)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Lark Sparrow, 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, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (19)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll
Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species.
Nesting season it supports in Illinois
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Red maple:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
Native plants to pair with Red maple in Illinois
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Red maple native to Illinois?
Yes. Red maple (Acer rubrum) is recorded as native in Illinois. Illinois spans USDA 5a–7b.
What birds does Red maple attract in Illinois?
In Illinois, Red maple supports 125 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does Red maple help nesting birds in Illinois?
106 of those birds nest in Illinois: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June).
Which winter birds use Red maple in Illinois?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll use it in Illinois during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Illinois
- 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.