Tamarack for birds in Wisconsin
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls. Native to Wisconsin, where it feeds or shelters 95 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Larix laricina
- Native status
- Native in Wisconsin
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Wisconsin birds supported
- 95
- Nesting birds among them
- 89
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 Tamarack
Year-round residents (35)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Red Crossbill, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (54)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, 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, 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, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (6)
Common Redpoll, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Common 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 Tamarack:
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- Tufted Titmouse — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
Native plants to pair with Tamarack in Wisconsin
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Tamarack native to Wisconsin?
Yes. Tamarack (Larix laricina) is recorded as native in Wisconsin. Wisconsin spans USDA 3b–6a.
What birds does Tamarack attract in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, Tamarack supports 95 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does Tamarack help nesting birds in Wisconsin?
89 of those birds nest in Wisconsin: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use Tamarack in Wisconsin?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Common 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.