Chokecherry for birds in British Columbia
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to British Columbia, where it feeds or shelters 94 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in British Columbia
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- British Columbia birds supported
- 94
- Nesting birds among them
- 94
Growing conditions in British Columbia
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
British Columbia birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (41)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Bewick's Wren, Varied Thrush, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Western Screech-Owl, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (53)
House Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in British Columbia
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Chokecherry:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
- Purple Finch — June–July
- American Robin — May–July
- White-throated Sparrow — June–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in British Columbia
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to British Columbia?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in British Columbia. British Columbia spans Canada 1a–9a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, Chokecherry supports 94 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in British Columbia?
94 of those birds nest in British Columbia: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.