Black cherry for birds in Nova Scotia
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. Native to Nova Scotia, where it feeds or shelters 80 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus serotina
- Native status
- Native in Nova Scotia
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 5a–7a (roughly USDA 4–6 equivalent)
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Nova Scotia birds supported
- 80
- Nesting birds among them
- 79
Growing conditions in Nova Scotia
Maritime — cool summers, snowy but ocean-moderated winters, fog and wind along the coast.
Cool summers delay nesting compared with inland regions at similar latitude.
Nova Scotia birds that use Black cherry
Year-round residents (27)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (52)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (1)
Damp cold and wind chill; sheltered feeding stations and suet help small birds through storms.
Nesting season it supports in Nova Scotia
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Black cherry:
- Northern Cardinal — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–July
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–July
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
Native plants to pair with Black cherry in Nova Scotia
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Black cherry native to Nova Scotia?
Yes. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is recorded as native in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia spans Canadian zones 5a–7a (roughly USDA 4–6 equivalent).
What birds does Black cherry attract in Nova Scotia?
In Nova Scotia, Black cherry supports 80 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Black cherry help nesting birds in Nova Scotia?
79 of those birds nest in Nova Scotia: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–July), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July).
Which winter birds use Black cherry in Nova Scotia?
Winter visitors Bohemian Waxwing use it in Nova Scotia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nova Scotia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
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.