White-throated Sparrows in Yukon
When white-throated 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.
- Status in Yukon
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1b
When to expect white-throated sparrows in Yukon
White-throated Sparrows are summer residents in Yukon, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on insects from the forest floor.
Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.
Nesting in Yukon
Across Yukon, white-throated sparrows typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cup on or near the ground in forest openings and bogs. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 7–12 days.
Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.
- White-throated Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, pin cherry, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Yukon plants that attract white-throated sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 8 provide food or cover white-throated sparrows use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.
Feeding white-throated sparrows through the Yukon year
White-throats scratch under feeders near thickets; brush piles hold them all winter.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower, Cracked corn.
- In Yukon's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for white-throated sparrows · Best feeder for white-throated sparrows
Frequently asked
Are white-throated sparrows in Yukon year-round?
No. White-throated Sparrows are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.
When do white-throated sparrows nest in Yukon?
Nesting in Yukon typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract white-throated sparrows in Yukon?
Paper birch, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Western serviceberry, Willow (Bebb), Bearberry are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for white-throated sparrows.
White-throated Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Yukon
Sources
- White-throated Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-throated Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-throated Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Yukon
- 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.