Northwest Territories · Shrub

Bearberry for birds in Northwest Territories

Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 17 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Native status
Native in Northwest Territories
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1a
What birds get from it
fruit and berries
Northwest Territories birds supported
17
Nesting birds among them
17

Growing conditions in Northwest Territories

Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.

Brief summers with midnight sun.

Northwest Territories birds that use Bearberry

Nesting season it supports in Northwest Territories

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

  • American Robin — May–July
  • White-throated Sparrow — June–July
  • Northern Flicker — May–June
  • Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak — June–July
  • Cedar Waxwing — July–August
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler — June–July
  • Eastern Kingbird — June–July
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Fox Sparrow — June–July

Native plants to pair with Bearberry in Northwest Territories

Prunus pensylvanica · Tree

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Empetrum nigrum · Shrub

Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.

Frequently asked

Is Bearberry native to Northwest Territories?

Yes. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.

What birds does Bearberry attract in Northwest Territories?

In Northwest Territories, Bearberry supports 17 backyard birds, including American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing.

Does Bearberry help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?

17 of those birds nest in Northwest Territories: American Robin (May–July), White-throated Sparrow (June–July), Northern Flicker (May–June), Pileated Woodpecker (May–June).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Northwest Territories
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. 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.