Perch Supply
Ontario · Shrub

Serviceberry for birds in Ontario

Early-summer fruit. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 4 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Amelanchier spp.
Native status
Native in Ontario
Hardiness zones
Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
What birds get from it
Food and cover
Ontario birds supported
4
Nesting birds among them
4

Growing conditions in Ontario

Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.

Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.

Ontario birds that use Serviceberry

Year-round residents (3)

Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Purple Finch

Summer breeders (1)

Eastern Bluebird

Nesting season it supports in Ontario

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Serviceberry:

  • Northern Cardinal — May–August
  • Eastern Bluebird — May–August
  • House Finch — April–August
  • Purple Finch — May–July

Native plants to pair with Serviceberry in Ontario

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

Fruit and cover.

Sugar maple
Acer saccharum · Tree

Insects, seeds and cavities.

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Frequently asked

Is Serviceberry native to Ontario?

Yes. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).

What birds does Serviceberry attract in Ontario?

In Ontario, Serviceberry supports 4 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, House Finch, Purple Finch.

Does Serviceberry help nesting birds in Ontario?

4 of those birds nest in Ontario: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), House Finch (April–August), Purple Finch (May–July).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database
  6. Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada

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.