Sugar maple for birds in Pennsylvania
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to Pennsylvania, where it feeds or shelters 122 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in Pennsylvania
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Pennsylvania birds supported
- 122
- Nesting birds among them
- 112
Growing conditions in Pennsylvania
Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.
Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.
Pennsylvania birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (56)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Towhee, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned 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, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Field Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (56)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Pine Warbler, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated 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, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink
Winter visitors (10)
Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state.
Nesting season it supports in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Sugar maple native to Pennsylvania?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania spans USDA 5a–7b.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, Sugar maple supports 122 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in Pennsylvania?
112 of those birds nest in Pennsylvania: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in Pennsylvania?
Winter visitors Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in Pennsylvania during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Pennsylvania
- 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.