Sugar maple for birds in North Dakota
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to North Dakota, where it feeds or shelters 114 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in North Dakota
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- North Dakota birds supported
- 114
- Nesting birds among them
- 95
Growing conditions in North Dakota
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
North Dakota birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (34)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (61)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, American Goldfinch, House Wren, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, 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, Burrowing Owl, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (19)
Dark-eyed Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Nesting season it supports in North Dakota
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 — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Goldfinch — August–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
Native plants to pair with Sugar maple in North Dakota
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Frequently asked
Is Sugar maple native to North Dakota?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in North Dakota. North Dakota spans USDA 3a–4b.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, Sugar maple supports 114 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in North Dakota?
95 of those birds nest in North Dakota: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in North Dakota?
Winter visitors Dark-eyed Junco, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch use it in North Dakota during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — North Dakota
- 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.