White oak for birds in Tennessee
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food. Native to Tennessee, where it feeds or shelters 98 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Quercus alba
- Native status
- Native in Tennessee
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
- What birds get from it
- acorns and nuts, insects for nestlings
- Tennessee birds supported
- 98
- Nesting birds among them
- 82
Growing conditions in Tennessee
Humid subtropical, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River floodplain.
Hot, humid summers in the valleys.
Tennessee birds that use White oak
Year-round residents (47)
Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Warbler, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Brown-headed Nuthatch
Summer breeders (35)
Purple Martin, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chimney Swift, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (16)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round.
Nesting season it supports in Tennessee
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use White oak:
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- Blue Jay — April–July
- Carolina Wren — April–August
- American Robin — April–July
Native plants to pair with White oak in Tennessee
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Frequently asked
Is White oak native to Tennessee?
Yes. White oak (Quercus alba) is recorded as native in Tennessee. Tennessee spans USDA 6a–8a.
What birds does White oak attract in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, White oak supports 98 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse.
Does White oak help nesting birds in Tennessee?
82 of those birds nest in Tennessee: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use White oak in Tennessee?
Winter visitors Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird use it in Tennessee during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Tennessee
- 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.