Examples of birds that nest in trees include baya weaver, bluebirds, cardinal, cedar waxwing, and chickadees.
Birds that nest in trees have a wide range of habitat options, from dense forests to open woodlands. In general, however, they prefer areas with plenty of cover and nesting sites, as well as a good supply of food. Some common tree-nesting birds include robins, bluebirds, owls, and woodpeckers.
While each species has its own preferences, all tree-nesting birds rely on trees for both shelter and food. In fact, many bird species will only nest in certain types of trees, depending on the availability of food and the size and structure of the tree.
Examples of Birds that Nest in Trees
1. Baya Weaver
| Scientific Name | Ploceus philippinus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia |
The baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a small passerine bird that is a member of the weaver family. It is also known as the Philippine golden-naped Weaver and the golden-naped Weaver. The baya weaver is native to the Philippines, where it is found on the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte, Samar, and Polillo.
The baya weaver builds a large, woven nest in the shape of a ball. The nest is made from strips of palm leaves and other plant materials and is suspended from the branch of a tree. The female bird lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs in the nest, which are incubated for around two weeks.
Related Article: 29 Birds that Run
2. Bluebirds
| Scientific Name | Sialia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | west of the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico |
The eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) is a small thrush that typically nests in cavities of dead trees. However, they will also use nest boxes provided by humans. These birds are found in open woodlands and forest edges across the eastern United States.
Related Article: 25 Birds that Bring Good Luck
3. Cardinal
| Scientific Name | Cardinalis cardinalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout the eastern half of the United States |
The cardinal is a North American bird that is easily recognizable by its bright red color. Cardinals are fairly large birds, measuring 9-11 inches in length and weighing 2-4 ounces. They have a short, stout bill and a long tail.
Cardinals are found in open woodlands, edges of forests, and backyards. They prefer areas with plenty of trees and shrubs for cover. Cardinals eat a variety of foods, including insects, seeds, fruits, and nuts.
Related Article: 25 Birds that Fly in Flocks
4. Cedar Waxwing
| Scientific Name | Bombycilla cedrorum |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mostly in the northern half of the United States |
This bird can be found in the southern United States, but ranges as far north as Canada during the summer months. Cedar waxwings are social birds that often nest in small groups, making them a common sight in backyard bird feeders. They prefer to nest in deciduous trees, particularly those with berries or fruits.
Related Article: 30 Birds that Look Like Ducks
5. Chickadees
| Scientific Name | Paridae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | forests, backyards, and parks across North America |
The Black-capped Chickadee is a small, sprightly bird that is common in woodlands and forests across North America. These birds are known for their cheerful “chick-a-dee” call, which they use to communicate with other members of their flock.
Black-capped Chickadees nest in tree cavities, where they raise their young. These birds are also one of the few bird species that can actually remember the locations of thousands of food sources, which comes in handy during the winter months when food is scarce.
Read Also: Dead Sparrow Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism
6. Downy Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Picoides pubescens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Forests, woodlots, willows, river groves, orchards, shade trees |
This small woodpecker is a common sight at backyard bird feeders and in wooded areas across North America. The downy woodpecker nests in tree cavities, often excavating its own hole in a dead or dying tree. This bird primarily eats insects, which it finds by pecking at tree bark.
Related Article: 21 Birds that Look Like Blue Jays
7. Eastern Bluebird
| Scientific Name | Sialia sialis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across eastern North America and south as far as Nicaragua |
The eastern bluebird is a small thrush that is native to North America. It has a bright blue back and wings, with an orange breast. The eastern bluebird typically nests in trees, often using old woodpecker holes.
8. Gila Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Melanerpes uropygialis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | strictly arid environments, especially deserts and dry forests of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico |
The Gila woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It nests in saguaro cacti, often drilling multiple holes in a single cactus. The Gila woodpecker feeds on insects, fruits, and seeds, and is an important seed disperser for the saguaro cactus.
9. Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Melanerpes aurifrons |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mesquite, riparian woodlands, and tropical rainforest |
The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker is a small woodpecker that is found in the southeastern United States. This bird nests in trees, and it prefers to nest in live trees rather than dead ones. The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker will also use man-made nest boxes.
10. Great Horned Owl
| Scientific Name | Bubo virginianus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | practically all habitats in North America, from swamps to deserts to northern coniferous forests near treeline |
The Great Horned Owl is a large owl that is found in many different habitats, including forests, woodlands, and even urban areas. These owls nest in trees, using tree cavities or nests built by other animals such as squirrels. The Great Horned Owl feeds on a variety of small animals, including rodents, birds, and reptiles.
11. Hummingbirds
| Scientific Name | Trochilidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | from Tierra Del Fuego to southern Alaska and from below sea level deserts to steamy tropical forests at elevations of up to 16,000 feet in the Andes of South America |
Most hummingbirds nest in trees, often near the edge of a forest where there is plenty of sunlight. The tiny nests are made from plant down and spider webs and are usually located on a branch near a flower or other source of nectar.
12. Least Flycatcher
| Scientific Name | Empidonax minimus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Open woods, aspen groves, orchards, shade trees |
The least flycatcher is a small songbird that is found in North and South America. It nests in trees, often near water, and feeds on insects. The bird gets its name from its habit of catching flies in mid-air.
The least flycatcher is olive-gray on the upper parts and yellowish on the underparts. It has a white eye ring and a dark line through the eye. The wings are gray with two white bars. The tail is gray with a white tip.
13. Northern Flicker
| Scientific Name | Colaptes auratus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | almost any habitat with trees |
The northern flicker is a type of woodpecker that is common in North America. These birds nest in trees, often near the trunk. They prefer trees that are taller than they are wide, with plenty of dead branches for nesting and roosting.
14. Oriole
| Scientific Name | Icterus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the eastern United States and as far west as Montana |
The oriole is a brightly colored bird that is found in open woodlands and forest edges. They build their nests in the forks of trees, often using Spanish moss or strips of bark to hold the nest together. Orioles eat a variety of insects, as well as fruits and berries.
15. Pileated Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Dryocopus pileatus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Canada and in western Washington all the way down to northern parts of California and most areas of the eastern United States |
The Pileated Woodpecker is a large, black bird with a white belly and red crest. This woodpecker is found in forests across North America, where it drills holes in trees to find insects to eat. The Pileated Woodpecker will also eat fruits and nuts and is known to damage trees in search of food.
16. Red-Breasted Nuthatch
| Scientific Name | Sitta canadensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | coniferous woods and mountains |
These small, agile birds are often seen climbing up and down tree trunks headfirst. They mainly eat insects but will also feast on nuts and seeds. Red-breasted nuthatches nest in coniferous trees, such as spruce and fir.
17. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Leuconotopicus borealis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Virginia south to Florida and west to Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas |
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a small black and white bird that nests in pine trees. This species is found in the southeastern United States, where it relies on mature pines for both food and shelter.
The red-cockaded woodpecker excavates nest cavities in the trunks of live pines, which provide protection from the weather and predators.
18. Red-Headed Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout most of North America |
The red-headed woodpecker is a small to medium-sized bird with a black body and striking red head. This woodpecker is found in open woodlands and forests across North America. The red-headed woodpecker feeds on insects, especially ants and beetles, which it catches by probing into crevices in tree bark.
19. Rufous Hornero
| Scientific Name | Furnarius rufus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern South America |
The Rufous Hornero is a small, sparrow-like bird found throughout South America. It prefers to nest in trees with a good supply of insects, such as ants and termites. The hornero will build its nests out of mud, sticks, and leaves, forming a bowl-shaped structure that is attached to a tree branch.
20. Tree Swallow
| Scientific Name | Tachycineta bicolor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the US and Canada |
The tree swallow is a small, agile bird that is common in North America. It nests in cavities in trees, often near water. The tree swallow is one of the few bird species that will actively compete with other birds for nest sites.
21. Tyrant Flycatchers
| Scientific Name | Tyrannidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North and South America |
These aggressive little birds are some of the most common tree-nesting birds in North America. Tyrant flycatchers build their nests in a variety of trees, including conifers, deciduous trees, and even cacti.
22. Weavers
| Scientific Name | Ploceidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | semi-arid areas, savanna, grasslands, and forests |
These small birds are well-known for their intricate nests, which they build by weaving plant material together. Some common weaver species include the baya weaver, the village weaver, and the red-billed quelea.
23. White-Breasted Nuthatch
| Scientific Name | Sitta carolinensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Forests, woodlots, groves, shade trees |
This small, black-and-white bird is a common sight in woods and gardens across North America. Nuthatches are well-adapted to life in trees, with sharp claws that help them climb up, down, and around trunks and branches. They eat mostly insects but will also feast on nuts and seeds.
24. Yellow Warbler
| Scientific Name | Setophaga petechia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | central and northern North America |
This small songbird is a common sight in woods and gardens across North America. It nests in trees, often using abandoned nests of other birds such as robins or bluebirds. The female builds the nest by herself, using grasses, bark strips, and other plant materials. She lays 3-5 eggs, which hatch after about 12 days.
25. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
| Scientific Name | Sphyrapicus varius |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across Canada, eastern Alaska, and the northeastern United States |
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a small woodpecker that drills holes in tree bark to reach the sap beneath. These birds are found in forests across North America, where they mostly feed on sap and insects.
The yellow-bellied sapsucker nests in tree cavities, which it excavates itself. These birds will often use the same nest site for many years in a row.
The sapsucker’s habitat preference is deciduous or mixed forests with plenty of large trees. These birds are also found in urban parks and gardens, where they will feed on ornamental trees.
Conclusion
Birds that nest in trees are well-adapted to their environment. Trees provide shade from the sun and protection from predators. In addition, trees offer a place for birds to build their nests and raise their young. By nesting in trees, birds can take advantage of the many benefits that trees provide.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.