Sugar maple for birds in Missouri
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to Missouri, where it feeds or shelters 128 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in Missouri
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Missouri birds supported
- 128
- Nesting birds among them
- 108
Growing conditions in Missouri
Humid continental, from the Ozark Plateau in the south to prairie and river floodplains in the north.
Hot, humid summers.
Missouri birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (53)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, 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, Eastern Towhee, 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, Greater Roadrunner, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Summer breeders (55)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, 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, Scissor-tailed 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 (20)
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, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll
Cold winters with variable snow; ice storms can shut down natural food for days.
Nesting season it supports in Missouri
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 — 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 Sugar maple in Missouri
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Sugar maple native to Missouri?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in Missouri. Missouri spans USDA 5b–7b.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in Missouri?
In Missouri, Sugar maple supports 128 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in Missouri?
108 of those birds nest in Missouri: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in Missouri?
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, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll use it in Missouri during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Missouri
- 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.