Names: utim c’a, Black Oak, Quercus kelloggii

Native American uses: Acorns from the black oak are the favorite acorns for eating by the Nisenan and many other Tribes. They are large and sweet and when ground into flour they were used to make various dishes, including bread and porridge. The bark was utilized for medicinal purposes, acting as an astringent to treat ailments like sore throats, wounds, and stomach issues due to its high tannin content. 

Bird Uses: The black oaks make great bird plants. They provide many nest sites, including holes, and the trees are full of spiders and insects year-round that are eaten by insectivorous birds – there is something there all the time for birds with a taste for that sort of thing.  The acorns are the staple food for the Acorn Woodpecker. More species of caterpillars are found on California Oaks than any other plants in North America, and the caterpillars become the main protein source for baby birds every spring.