Perch Supply
Alaska · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Alaska

Persistent cones in boreal bogs. Native to Alaska, where it feeds or shelters 16 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Picea mariana
Native status
Native in Alaska
Hardiness zones
USDA 1a–8a
What birds get from it
conifer seed and cover
Alaska birds supported
16
Nesting birds among them
16

Growing conditions in Alaska

Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.

A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.

Alaska birds that use Black spruce

Nesting season it supports in Alaska

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

  • Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
  • Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
  • Pine Siskin — May–June
  • Common Redpoll — July
  • Steller's Jay — May–June
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Chestnut-backed Chickadee — May–June
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet — June–July
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet — June–July
  • Pine Grosbeak — June–July

Native plants to pair with Black spruce in Alaska

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack
Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch
Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Alaska?

Yes. Black spruce (Picea mariana) is recorded as native in Alaska. Alaska spans USDA 1a–8a.

What birds does Black spruce attract in Alaska?

In Alaska, Black spruce supports 16 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Steller's Jay, Canada Jay.

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Alaska?

16 of those birds nest in Alaska: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Red-breasted Nuthatch (June), Pine Siskin (May–June), Common Redpoll (July).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
  4. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  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.