Northwest Territories · Summer breeder

American Crows in Northwest Territories

When American are present in Northwest Territories, when they nest, which native Northwest Territories plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
Status in Northwest Territories
Summer breeder
Nesting window
April–June
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1a

When to expect American in Northwest Territories

American Crows are summer residents in Northwest Territories, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent.

Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.

Nesting in Northwest Territories

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

Brief summers with midnight sun.

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

Native Northwest Territories plants that attract American

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

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Balsam fir
Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack
Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch
Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Feeding American through the Northwest Territories year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Peanuts in the shell.
  • In Northwest Territories's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American

Frequently asked

Are American in Northwest Territories year-round?

No. American Crows are summer breeders in Northwest Territories and leave for the winter.

When do American nest in Northwest Territories?

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

What native plants attract American in Northwest Territories?

Paper birch, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Northwest Territories that provide food or cover for American.

American Crows in other regions

Other backyard birds in Northwest Territories

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 — Northwest Territories
  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.