Chokecherry for birds in Northwest Territories
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 60 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Northwest Territories
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Northwest Territories birds supported
- 60
- Nesting birds among them
- 60
Growing conditions in Northwest Territories
Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Brief summers with midnight sun.
Northwest Territories birds that use Chokecherry
Year-round residents (15)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Canada Jay, Common Raven, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker
Summer breeders (45)
American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Fox Sparrow, Varied Thrush, American Crow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Northwest Territories
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
- American Robin — May–July
- White-throated Sparrow — June–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
Native plants to pair with Chokecherry in Northwest Territories
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Northwest Territories?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Northwest Territories?
In Northwest Territories, Chokecherry supports 60 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?
60 of those birds nest in Northwest Territories: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), American Robin (May–July).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Northwest Territories
- 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.