British Columbia · Year-round resident

American Crows in British Columbia

When American are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
Status in British Columbia
Year-round resident
Nesting window
April–June
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 1a–9a

When to expect American in British Columbia

American Crows live in British Columbia all year. Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.

Nesting in British Columbia

Across British Columbia, American typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.

  • American Crows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native British Columbia plants that attract American

Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, these 8 provide food or cover American use:

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rocky Mountain bee plant
Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding American through the British Columbia year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Peanuts in the shell.
  • In British Columbia's winter: Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American

Frequently asked

Are American in British Columbia year-round?

Yes. American Crows are year-round residents in British Columbia.

When do American nest in British Columbia?

Nesting in British Columbia typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–9 eggs, incubated for 17–21 days.

What native plants attract American in British Columbia?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for American.

American Crows in other regions

Other backyard birds in British Columbia

Black-capped ChickadeeDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenHouse FinchPurple FinchMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoWhite-throated SparrowSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperRed-winged BlackbirdRose-breasted GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinCommon RedpollGray CatbirdCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowYellow-rumped WarblerEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingSteller's JayBlack-billed MagpieCanada JayMountain ChickadeeChestnut-backed ChickadeeBushtitPygmy NuthatchAnna's HummingbirdBlack-chinned HummingbirdRufous HummingbirdCassin's FinchSpotted TowheeCalifornia QuailWestern BluebirdMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeBewick's WrenWhite-crowned SparrowGolden-crowned SparrowFox SparrowVaried ThrushViolet-green SwallowBlack-headed GrosbeakLazuli BuntingBullock's OrioleEurasian Collared-DoveCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkBarred OwlGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWood DuckMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushWinter WrenPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillGray CatbirdWestern TanagerLark SparrowClark's NutcrackerWestern Screech-OwlHooded MerganserYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartBlack-and-white WarblerOvenbirdYellow-breasted ChatOrange-crowned WarblerPalm WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoLeast FlycatcherWestern KingbirdCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBarn OwlLewis's WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerWhite-headed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowSwamp SparrowVesper SparrowHorned LarkCommon RedpollHoary RedpollWhite-winged CrossbillGray-crowned Rosy-FinchBohemian WaxwingBobolinkYellow-headed BlackbirdBrewer's BlackbirdRusty BlackbirdRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. American Crow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. American Crow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. American Crow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.