Sugar maple for birds in Wisconsin
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects. Native to Wisconsin, where it feeds or shelters 121 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Acer saccharum
- Native status
- Native in Wisconsin
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Wisconsin birds supported
- 121
- Nesting birds among them
- 112
Growing conditions in Wisconsin
Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Warm, humid summers.
Wisconsin birds that use Sugar maple
Year-round residents (49)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, 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, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (63)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, 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, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling 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, Merlin, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (9)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north.
Nesting season it supports in Wisconsin
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
- Tufted Titmouse — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
Native plants to pair with Sugar maple in Wisconsin
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Sugar maple native to Wisconsin?
Yes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is recorded as native in Wisconsin. Wisconsin spans USDA 3b–6a.
What birds does Sugar maple attract in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, Sugar maple supports 121 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Sugar maple help nesting birds in Wisconsin?
112 of those birds nest in Wisconsin: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use Sugar maple in Wisconsin?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in Wisconsin during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wisconsin
- 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.