Tall goldenrod for birds in New Hampshire
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to New Hampshire, where it feeds or shelters 111 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in New Hampshire
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- New Hampshire birds supported
- 111
- Nesting birds among them
- 105
Growing conditions in New Hampshire
Humid continental, with the White Mountains dividing the southern lowlands from northern forest.
Mild summers; nesting starts late May.
New Hampshire birds that use Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (50)
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, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, 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, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, 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 (55)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, 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, Ovenbird, 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, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (6)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Long, snowy winters; boreal species visit feeders in irruption years.
Nesting season it supports in New Hampshire
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Tall goldenrod:
- 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 Tall goldenrod in New Hampshire
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to New Hampshire?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in New Hampshire. New Hampshire spans USDA 3b–6a.
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, Tall goldenrod supports 111 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in New Hampshire?
105 of those birds nest in New Hampshire: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in New Hampshire?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in New Hampshire during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Hampshire
- 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.