Sugar maple for birds in Georgia
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to Georgia, where it feeds or shelters 123 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in Georgia
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Georgia birds supported
- 123
- Nesting birds among them
- 99
Growing conditions in Georgia
Humid subtropical, with cooler mountains in the north and a warm coastal plain in the south.
Hot, humid summers; bluebirds can raise three broods but boxes in full sun overheat.
Georgia birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (62)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, 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, 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, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, 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, Horned Lark, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Boat-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (37)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Barn Swallow, 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, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (24)
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, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Mild winters bring irregular purple finch and pine-siskin irruptions from the north.
Nesting season it supports in Georgia
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Sugar maple:
- Northern Cardinal — March–September
- Eastern Bluebird — March–August
- Carolina Chickadee — March–June
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Downy Woodpecker — March–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Wren — April–August
Native plants to pair with Sugar maple in Georgia
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Sugar maple native to Georgia?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in Georgia. Georgia spans USDA 7a–9a.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in Georgia?
In Georgia, Sugar maple supports 123 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in Georgia?
99 of those birds nest in Georgia: Northern Cardinal (March–September), Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Carolina Chickadee (March–June), Purple Martin (April–July).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in Georgia?
Winter visitors 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, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Georgia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Georgia
- 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.