Yukon · Tree

Black spruce for birds in Yukon

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

Scientific name: Picea mariana
Native status: Native in Yukon
Hardiness zones: Canada 0a–1b
What birds get from it: conifer seed and cover
Yukon birds supported: 15
Nesting birds among them: 15

Growing conditions in Yukon

Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.

Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.

Yukon birds that use Black spruce

Year-round residents (12)

Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, 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 Yukon

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
Mountain Chickadee — June–July
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 Yukon

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.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Frequently asked

Is Black spruce native to Yukon?

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

What birds does Black spruce attract in Yukon?

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

Does Black spruce help nesting birds in Yukon?

15 of those birds nest in Yukon: 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.