Chokecherry for birds in Manitoba
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Manitoba, where it feeds or shelters 88 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Manitoba
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Manitoba birds supported
- 88
- Nesting birds among them
- 88
Growing conditions in Manitoba
Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.
Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.
Manitoba birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (23)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (65)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Fox Sparrow, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Manitoba
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Chokecherry:
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- Purple Finch — June–July
- American Robin — May–July
- White-throated Sparrow — June–July
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Manitoba
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Manitoba?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Manitoba. Manitoba spans Canada 1a–3b.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Manitoba?
In Manitoba, Chokecherry supports 88 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Manitoba?
88 of those birds nest in Manitoba: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Manitoba
- 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.