Nunavut · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Nunavut

Persistent cones in boreal bogs. Native to Nunavut, where it feeds or shelters 10 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Picea mariana
Native status
Native in Nunavut
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a
What birds get from it
conifer seed and cover
Nunavut birds supported
10
Nesting birds among them
10

Growing conditions in Nunavut

Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.

A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.

Nunavut birds that use Black spruce

Nesting season it supports in Nunavut

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

  • 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
  • American Three-toed Woodpecker — June–July
  • Common Redpoll — July
  • White-winged Crossbill — February–December

Native plants to pair with Black spruce in Nunavut

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Nunavut?

Yes. Black spruce (Picea mariana) is recorded as native in Nunavut. Nunavut spans Canada 0a.

What birds does Black spruce attract in Nunavut?

In Nunavut, Black spruce supports 10 backyard birds, including Common Redpoll, Canada Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill.

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Nunavut?

10 of those birds nest in Nunavut: Common Redpoll (July), Canada Jay (April), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (June–July), Golden-crowned Kinglet (June–July).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nunavut
  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.