Sugar maple for birds in South Dakota
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to South Dakota, where it feeds or shelters 120 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in South Dakota
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- South Dakota birds supported
- 120
- Nesting birds among them
- 101
Growing conditions in South Dakota
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
South Dakota birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (41)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, 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, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (60)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, 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, Violet-green Swallow, 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
Cold, windy winters.
Nesting season it supports in South 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 — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
Native plants to pair with Sugar maple in South 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 South Dakota?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in South Dakota. South Dakota spans USDA 3b–5b.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, Sugar maple supports 120 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in South Dakota?
101 of those birds nest in South Dakota: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in South 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 South Dakota during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — South 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.