Song Sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador
When song sparrows are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
When to expect song sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador
Song Sparrows are summer residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, song sparrows typically nest from May–August. Nest site: grass cup on the ground or low in shrubs. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Song Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern white pine, paper birch, red maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract song sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover song sparrows use:
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding song sparrows through the Newfoundland and Labrador year
Song Sparrows feed at the edge of shrubbery and are among the first birds singing in late winter.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower, Cracked corn.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for song sparrows · Best feeder for song sparrows
Frequently asked
Are song sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
No. Song Sparrows are summer breeders in Newfoundland and Labrador and leave for the winter.
When do song sparrows nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs May–August, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract song sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for song sparrows.
Song Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sources
- Song Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Song Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Song Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- 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.