Chokecherry for birds in Saskatchewan
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. Native to Saskatchewan, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus virginiana
- Native status
- Native in Saskatchewan
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Saskatchewan birds supported
- 89
- Nesting birds among them
- 89
Growing conditions in Saskatchewan
Continental — prairie in the south, boreal forest in the north.
Warm, sunny summers.
Saskatchewan 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 (66)
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, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, 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, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Bohemian Waxwing, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Saskatchewan
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 Saskatchewan
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Chokecherry native to Saskatchewan?
Yes. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is recorded as native in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan spans Canada 1a–3b.
What birds does Chokecherry attract in Saskatchewan?
In Saskatchewan, Chokecherry supports 89 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Chokecherry help nesting birds in Saskatchewan?
89 of those birds nest in Saskatchewan: 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 — Saskatchewan
- 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.