Manitoba · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Manitoba

Persistent cones in boreal bogs. Native to Manitoba, where it feeds or shelters 15 backyard bird species.

Scientific name: Picea mariana
Native status: Native in Manitoba
Hardiness zones: Canada 1a–3b
What birds get from it: conifer seed and cover
Manitoba birds supported: 15
Nesting birds among them: 13

Growing conditions in Manitoba

Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.

Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.

Manitoba birds that use Black spruce

Very cold winters to −30°F.

Nesting season it supports in Manitoba

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
Evening Grosbeak — July
Pine Siskin — May–June
Canada Jay — April
Ruby-crowned Kinglet — June–July
Golden-crowned Kinglet — June–July
Pine Grosbeak — June–July
Red Crossbill — February–December
Northern Saw-whet Owl — April–June

Native plants to pair with Black spruce in Manitoba

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Balsam fir

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

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.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Manitoba?

Yes. Black spruce (Picea mariana) is recorded as native in Manitoba. Manitoba spans Canada 1a–3b.

What birds does Black spruce attract in Manitoba?

In Manitoba, Black spruce supports 15 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Canada Jay.

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Manitoba?

13 of those birds nest in Manitoba: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Red-breasted Nuthatch (June), Evening Grosbeak (July), Pine Siskin (May–June).

Which winter birds use Black spruce in Manitoba?

Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in Manitoba during the cold months.

Sources

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.