Eastern hemlock for birds in Pennsylvania
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting. Native to Pennsylvania, where it feeds or shelters 97 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Tsuga canadensis
- Native status
- Native in Pennsylvania
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Pennsylvania birds supported
- 97
- Nesting birds among them
- 90
Growing conditions in Pennsylvania
Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.
Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.
Pennsylvania birds that use Eastern hemlock
Year-round residents (40)
Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Red Crossbill, Hooded Merganser, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (50)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Pine Warbler, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Swamp Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink
Winter visitors (7)
Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Common Redpoll
Snow cover makes suet and heated water valuable; both chickadee species meet in a narrow hybrid zone across the south of the state.
Nesting season it supports in Pennsylvania
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Eastern hemlock:
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Carolina Chickadee — April–June
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- Carolina Wren — April–August
Native plants to pair with Eastern hemlock in Pennsylvania
Frequently asked
Is Eastern hemlock native to Pennsylvania?
Yes. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is recorded as native in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania spans USDA 5a–7b.
What birds does Eastern hemlock attract in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, Eastern hemlock supports 97 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Eastern hemlock help nesting birds in Pennsylvania?
90 of those birds nest in Pennsylvania: Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Carolina Chickadee (April–June), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Eastern hemlock in Pennsylvania?
Winter visitors Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Grosbeak, Merlin, Common Redpoll use it in Pennsylvania during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Pennsylvania
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.