Northwest Territories · Year-round resident

Rock Pigeons in Northwest Territories

When rock pigeons 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.

Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)Rock PigeonColumba livia

Status in Northwest Territories: Year-round resident
Nesting window: February–December
Broods: Up to 6 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1a

When to expect rock pigeons in Northwest Territories

Rock Pigeons 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, rock pigeons typically nest from February–December. Plan around that window: January for setup, December for clean-out.

Brief summers with midnight sun.

Rock Pigeons 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 December.

Native Northwest Territories plants that attract rock pigeons

Of the regional native plants we track for Northwest Territories, these 4 provide food or cover rock pigeons 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 rock pigeons through the Northwest Territories year

Top foods: None recommended — flocks crowd out other feeder birds.
In Northwest Territories's winter: Extremely cold, dark winters.

Full diet breakdown for rock pigeons · Best feeder for rock pigeons

Frequently asked

Are rock pigeons in Northwest Territories year-round?

Yes. Rock Pigeons are year-round residents in Northwest Territories.

When do rock pigeons nest in Northwest Territories?

Nesting in Northwest Territories typically runs February–December, with up to 6 per season. Clutches are 1–3 eggs, incubated for 17–19 days.

What native plants attract rock pigeons in Northwest Territories?

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

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 Brown-headed Cowbird 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

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.