Douglas fir for birds in Alberta
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees. Native to Alberta, where it feeds or shelters 91 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Native status
- Native in Alberta
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Alberta birds supported
- 91
- Nesting birds among them
- 89
Growing conditions in Alberta
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
Alberta birds that use Douglas fir
Year-round residents (30)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech-Owl, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (59)
Purple Martin, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, 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, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (2)
Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south.
Nesting season it supports in Alberta
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Douglas fir:
- 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
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
Native plants to pair with Douglas fir in Alberta
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Douglas fir native to Alberta?
Yes. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is recorded as native in Alberta. Alberta spans Canada 2a–4b.
What birds does Douglas fir attract in Alberta?
In Alberta, Douglas fir supports 91 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Douglas fir help nesting birds in Alberta?
89 of those birds nest in Alberta: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use Douglas fir in Alberta?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in Alberta during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- 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.