Yukon · Shrub

Crowberry for birds in Yukon

Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring. Native to Yukon, where it feeds or shelters 15 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Empetrum nigrum
Native status
Native in Yukon
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1b
What birds get from it
fruit and berries
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 Crowberry

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 Crowberry:

  • American Robin — May–July
  • White-throated Sparrow — June–July
  • Northern Flicker — May–June
  • Cedar Waxwing — July–August
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler — June–July
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Mountain Bluebird — June–July
  • Fox Sparrow — June–July
  • Varied Thrush — June–July
  • Hermit Thrush — June–July

Native plants to pair with Crowberry in Yukon

Prunus pensylvanica · Tree

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · Shrub

Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.

Frequently asked

Is Crowberry native to Yukon?

Yes. Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) is recorded as native in Yukon. Yukon spans Canada 0a–1b.

What birds does Crowberry attract in Yukon?

In Yukon, Crowberry supports 15 backyard birds, including American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Canada Jay.

Does Crowberry help nesting birds in Yukon?

15 of those birds nest in Yukon: American Robin (May–July), White-throated Sparrow (June–July), Northern Flicker (May–June), Cedar Waxwing (July–August).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Yukon
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. 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.