Red maple for birds in Louisiana
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants. Native to Louisiana, where it feeds or shelters 129 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer rubrum
- Native status
- Native in Louisiana
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 8a–10a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Louisiana birds supported
- 129
- Nesting birds among them
- 101
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 Red maple
Year-round residents (69)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, 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, Gray Catbird, Hooded Merganser, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Goose, American Coot, 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, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Greater Roadrunner, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon, Monk Parakeet
Summer breeders (32)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Lark Sparrow, 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, Savannah Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (28)
American Goldfinch, House Wren, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, 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 Red maple:
- Northern Cardinal — March–August
- 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
- House Finch — March–August
- Carolina Wren — March–August
Native plants to pair with Red maple in Louisiana
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Red maple native to Louisiana?
Yes. Red maple (Acer rubrum) is recorded as native in Louisiana. Louisiana spans USDA 8a–10a.
What birds does Red maple attract in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, Red maple supports 129 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Red maple help nesting birds in Louisiana?
101 of those birds nest in Louisiana: Northern Cardinal (March–August), Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (April–July).
Which winter birds use Red maple in Louisiana?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, House Wren, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Pine Siskin, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, 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.