Northwest Territories · Summer breeder

Brown-headed Cowbirds in Northwest Territories

When cowbirds 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.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater

Status in Northwest Territories: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: —
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1a

When to expect cowbirds in Northwest Territories

Brown-headed Cowbirds are summer residents in Northwest Territories, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May 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, cowbirds typically nest from May–July. Plan around that window: April for setup, July for clean-out.

Brief summers with midnight sun.

Brown-headed Cowbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, willow (bebb), dwarf birch for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Northwest Territories plants that attract cowbirds

Of the regional native plants we track for Northwest Territories, these 4 provide food or cover cowbirds use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

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 cowbirds through the Northwest Territories year

Top foods: Millet, Cracked corn.
In Northwest Territories's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for cowbirds · Best feeder for cowbirds

Frequently asked

Are cowbirds in Northwest Territories year-round?

No. Brown-headed Cowbirds are summer breeders in Northwest Territories and leave for the winter.

When do cowbirds nest in Northwest Territories?

Nesting in Northwest Territories typically runs May–July, with —. Clutches are up to 36 eggs per season, one per host nest, incubated for 10–12 days.

What native plants attract cowbirds in Northwest Territories?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Northwest Territories that provide food or cover for cowbirds.

Other backyard birds in Northwest Territories

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow Canada Jay White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush American Crow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Black-and-white Warbler Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Bohemian Waxwing Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.