Perch Supply
Ontario · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Ontario

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

Scientific name
Picea mariana
Native status
Native in Ontario
Hardiness zones
Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
What birds get from it
conifer seed and cover
Ontario birds supported
16
Nesting birds among them
14

Growing conditions in Ontario

Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.

Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.

Ontario birds that use Black spruce

Winter visitors (2)

Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll

Cold, snowy winters; feeder flocks are dominated by chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and finches.

Nesting season it supports in Ontario

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
  • Pine Warbler — May–June
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet — June–July
  • Golden-crowned Kinglet — June–July
  • Pine Grosbeak — June–July
  • Red Crossbill — February–December

Native plants to pair with Black spruce in Ontario

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Eastern white pine
Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis · Tree

Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.

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.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Ontario?

Yes. Black spruce (Picea mariana) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).

What birds does Black spruce attract in Ontario?

In Ontario, Black spruce supports 16 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Pine Warbler.

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Ontario?

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

Which winter birds use Black spruce in Ontario?

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

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database
  6. Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada

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.