Yukon · Summer breeder

Chipping Sparrows in Yukon

When chipping sparrows are present in Yukon, when they nest, which native Yukon plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1b yard.

New World sparrows (Passerellidae)Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
Status in Yukon
Summer breeder
Nesting window
May–July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1b

When to expect chipping sparrows in Yukon

Chipping Sparrows are summer residents in Yukon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, leafhoppers and caterpillars.

Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.

Nesting in Yukon

Across Yukon, chipping sparrows typically nest from May–July. Nest site: loose cup lined with hair, 3–10 ft up in conifers or shrubs. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 10–15 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.

Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.

  • Chipping Sparrows 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 Yukon plants that attract chipping sparrows

Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 4 provide food or cover chipping sparrows 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 chipping sparrows through the Yukon year

Chippers feed on lawns and low platforms and nest in ornamental evergreens near houses.

  • Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower chips.
  • In Yukon's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for chipping sparrows · Best feeder for chipping sparrows

Frequently asked

Are chipping sparrows in Yukon year-round?

No. Chipping Sparrows are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.

When do chipping sparrows nest in Yukon?

Nesting in Yukon typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–15 days.

What native plants attract chipping sparrows in Yukon?

Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for chipping sparrows.

Chipping Sparrows in other regions

Other backyard birds in Yukon

Sources

  1. Chipping Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Chipping Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Chipping Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Yukon
  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.