Northwest Territories · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Northwest Territories

Persistent cones in boreal bogs. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 14 backyard bird species.

Scientific name: Picea mariana
Native status: Native in Northwest Territories
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1a
What birds get from it: conifer seed and cover
Northwest Territories birds supported: 14
Nesting birds among them: 14

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 Black spruce

Year-round residents (11)

Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Canada Jay, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill

Summer breeders (3)

Common Redpoll, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Common Redpoll

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 Black spruce:

Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
Pine Siskin — May–June
Common Redpoll — July
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 Northwest Territories

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.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Northwest Territories?

Yes. Black spruce (Picea mariana) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.

What birds does Black spruce attract in Northwest Territories?

In Northwest Territories, Black spruce supports 14 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Canada Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?

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

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.