{"id":138282,"date":"2024-12-26T02:42:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T08:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=138282"},"modified":"2024-12-26T02:47:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T08:47:09","slug":"some-birds-of-arkansas-oklahoma-that-love-american-mistletoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/12\/26\/some-birds-of-arkansas-oklahoma-that-love-american-mistletoe\/","title":{"rendered":"Some Birds of Arkansas & Oklahoma That Love American Mistletoe"},"content":{"rendered":"

While at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge last week, I photographed more American Mistletoe in a one tree than I had ever seen before. The tree was full of it.<\/p>\n

\"TreeTree covered with American Mistletoe – Cell phone photo
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I shared the photo on Facebook with the caption, “Ho ho ho… that’s a whole lot of mistletoe!” because that much mistletoe truly fascinated me.<\/p>\n

My dear friend and birder, Kathie Brown<\/span><\/a>, asked, ‘Who eats and spreads it out there?’ and since she asked, I did some research and now have some answers to her query. I wanted to know the answer too.<\/p>\n

According to Audubon<\/span><\/a>, Birds & Blooms<\/span><\/a>, and other sources, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwings, and Evening Grosbeaks enjoy eating mistletoe berries in Arkansas and Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

As of now, I don’t have any images of Evening Grosbeaks, but I wanted to share photos of the other birds I mentioned that feed on mistletoe berries here.<\/p>\n

\"Suburban<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"American<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
\"Mourning<\/a><\/div><\/div>
\"Cedar<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

I dug a bit deeper because I wanted a list of all North American birds that eat mistletoe berries and came up with more:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Phainopepla (main winter food source in the Sonoran Desert)<\/li>\n
  2. Bluebirds<\/li>\n
  3. Evening Grosbeaks<\/li>\n
  4. American Robins<\/li>\n
  5. Chickadees<\/li>\n
  6. Mourning Doves<\/li>\n
  7. Grouse<\/li>\n
  8. Pigeons<\/li>\n
  9. Cedar Waxwings<\/li>\n
  10. Gray Jays<\/li>\n
  11. Red Crossbills<\/li>\n
  12. House Wrens<\/li>\n
  13. Pygmy Nuthatches<\/li>\n
  14. Western Tanagers<\/li>\n
  15. Chipping Sparrows<\/li>\n
  16. Hermit Thrushes<\/li>\n
  17. Cassin’s Finches<\/li>\n
  18. Pine Siskins<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I’m not sure why chickadees, pigeons, Chipping Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, and Pine Siskins weren’t included in my original research, since those birds are found in both Arkansas and Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

    Maybe it’s a seasonal thing? Some of these birds are migratory.<\/p>\n

    That also made me wonder if there are mistletoe berries on the mistletoe right now.<\/p>\n

    \"AmericanAmerican Mistletoe in a Silver Maple<\/span><\/p>\n

    So, even though it was a gray, foggy, wet, and misty Christmas day, I went out and photographed some mistletoe clumps in the trees in the yard. The two clumps I found had no berries.<\/p>\n

    Now, I have a good idea of which birds might be eating mistletoe berries, something I wasn’t aware of before.<\/p>\n

    Mistletoe is a hemiparasitic plant, which means it partially relies on its host for survival while still performing some of its own vital functions. Mistletoe’s hemiparasitic life cycle allows it to thrive in various environments while maintaining a unique ecological role in its habitat.<\/p>\n

    By eating the mistletoe berries, birds play a crucial role in the plant’s reproduction, as they digest the berry pulp but pass the seeds intact through their digestive system. These seeds are then deposited on tree branches via bird droppings, allowing new mistletoe plants to germinate.<\/p>\n

    And that is probably more than you might want to know about birds and mistletoe.<\/p>\n

    Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

    Mia<\/p>\n

    Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    While at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge last week, I photographed more American Mistletoe in a one tree than I had ever seen before. The tree was full of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":138269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[456,4597,14094,1189],"tags":[16096,4004,16090,2427,6605,4599,13984,4598,16092,16095,14096,3747,16093,16089,1190,15059,4302,16091,16088,6188,14095,16094,4076,1048,1191],"class_list":["post-138282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-robins","category-cedar-waxwings","category-eastern-bluebirds","category-mourning-doves","tag-acer-saccharinum","tag-adult","tag-american-mistletoe","tag-american-robin","tag-berries","tag-bombycilla-cedrorum","tag-bottomlands","tag-cedar-waxwing","tag-clumps","tag-creek-maple","tag-eastern-bluebird","tag-grass","tag-hemiparasitic","tag-morus-rubra","tag-mourning-dove","tag-mulberry","tag-native","tag-phoradendron-leucarpum","tag-red-mulberry","tag-shrub","tag-sialia-sialis","tag-silver-maple","tag-trees","tag-turdus-migratorius","tag-zenaida-macroura"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/cedar-waxwing-mulberry-tree-mia-mcpherson-3801.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-zYm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":138831,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/01\/18\/winter-reflections-at-charleston-lake-park-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":0},"title":"Winter Reflections At Charleston Lake Park, Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Two days ago, it wasn\u2019t very birdy at Charleston Lake Park in Arkansas, and I\u2019m okay with that. I was happy photographing winter reflections on the lake.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter reflections at Charleston Lake Park, Franklin County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/charleston-lake-park-winter-view-mia-mcpherson-1557.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/charleston-lake-park-winter-view-mia-mcpherson-1557.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/charleston-lake-park-winter-view-mia-mcpherson-1557.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/charleston-lake-park-winter-view-mia-mcpherson-1557.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":146171,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/05\/23\/pair-of-cedar-waxwings-at-sequoyah-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":1},"title":"Pair of Cedar Waxwings At Sequoyah NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019m behind on everything, but wanted to share this pair of Cedar Waxwings I photographed earlier this month at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pair of Cedar Waxwings in a tree at Sequoyah NWR, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwings-spring-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwings-spring-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0741.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwings-spring-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0741.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwings-spring-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-0741.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":70442,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/06\/01\/an-american-robin-who-briefly-fooled-my-ears\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":2},"title":"An American Robin Who Briefly Fooled My Ears","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"And I then had an \"Ah ha\" moment. No wonder I thought I was hearing a Cedar Waxwing when in actuality it was the American Robin calling out because of a predator that I did not see.","rel":"","context":"In "American Robins"","block_context":{"text":"American Robins","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/thrushes\/american-robins\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Robin adult calling, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-calling-mia-mcpherson-5908.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-calling-mia-mcpherson-5908.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-calling-mia-mcpherson-5908.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-calling-mia-mcpherson-5908.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128683,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/23\/spring-eastern-kingbird-photos-from-tishomingo-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":3},"title":"Spring Eastern Kingbird Photos From Tishomingo NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Since my arrival in Oklahoma, I've had fun taking Eastern Kingbird photos at the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge. I've seen dozens of these kingbirds there.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Kingbird perched in a mulberry, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":78323,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/01\/25\/winter-american-robins\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":4},"title":"Winter American Robins","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"There is a skiff of snow on the ground again this morning and it has reminded me that I should look for winter American Robins feeding on crabapples today.","rel":"","context":"In "American Robins"","block_context":{"text":"American Robins","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/thrushes\/american-robins\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Robin looking for crabapples in snow, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-in-snow-mia-mcpherson-6863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-in-snow-mia-mcpherson-6863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-in-snow-mia-mcpherson-6863.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/american-robin-in-snow-mia-mcpherson-6863.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51108,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/03\/01\/photographing-american-tree-sparrows-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":138282,"position":5},"title":"Photographing American Tree Sparrows in Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I had a great deal of fun yesterday morning while photographing the American Tree Sparrows that I found in abundance on Antelope Island State Park foraging on the ground and perching on the bushes on the northern end of the island.","rel":"","context":"In "American Tree Sparrows"","block_context":{"text":"American Tree Sparrows","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/emberzine-sparrows-allies\/american-tree-sparrows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Tree Sparrow on a bright winter day, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-tree-sparrow-snow-mia-mcpherson-4436.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-tree-sparrow-snow-mia-mcpherson-4436.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-tree-sparrow-snow-mia-mcpherson-4436.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/american-tree-sparrow-snow-mia-mcpherson-4436.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}