Black-backed Woodpeckers in Northwest Territories
When black-backed woodpeckers 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.
- Status in Northwest Territories
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1a
When to expect black-backed woodpeckers in Northwest Territories
Black-backed Woodpeckers live in Northwest Territories all year. Extremely cold, dark winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.
Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Nesting in Northwest Territories
Across Northwest Territories, black-backed woodpeckers typically nest from June–July. Plan around that window: May for setup, July for clean-out.
Brief summers with midnight sun.
- Black-backed Woodpeckers 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 July.
Native Northwest Territories plants that attract black-backed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Northwest Territories, these 8 provide food or cover black-backed woodpeckers use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Persistent cones in boreal bogs.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding black-backed woodpeckers through the Northwest Territories year
- Top foods: Suet (rarely, near burned forest).
- In Northwest Territories's winter: Extremely cold, dark winters.
Full diet breakdown for black-backed woodpeckers · Best feeder for black-backed woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are black-backed woodpeckers in Northwest Territories year-round?
Yes. Black-backed Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Northwest Territories.
When do black-backed woodpeckers nest in Northwest Territories?
Nesting in Northwest Territories typically runs June–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract black-backed woodpeckers in Northwest Territories?
Paper birch, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Black spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Northwest Territories that provide food or cover for black-backed woodpeckers.
Black-backed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Northwest Territories
Sources
- Black-backed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-backed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-backed Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Northwest Territories
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.