Perch Supply
Ontario · Tree

Eastern white cedar for birds in Ontario

Dense roosting cover. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 3 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Thuja occidentalis
Native status
Native in Ontario
Hardiness zones
Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
What birds get from it
Food and cover
Ontario birds supported
3
Nesting birds among them
3

Growing conditions in Ontario

Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.

Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.

Ontario birds that use Eastern white cedar

Nesting season it supports in Ontario

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Eastern white cedar:

  • Northern Cardinal — May–August
  • Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
  • Purple Finch — May–July

Native plants to pair with Eastern white cedar in Ontario

Sugar maple
Acer saccharum · Tree

Insects, seeds and cavities.

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Black cherry
Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry
Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Frequently asked

Is Eastern white cedar native to Ontario?

Yes. Eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).

What birds does Eastern white cedar attract in Ontario?

In Ontario, Eastern white cedar supports 3 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Finch.

Does Eastern white cedar help nesting birds in Ontario?

3 of those birds nest in Ontario: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Finch (May–July).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database
  6. Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada

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.