Manitoba · Tree

Eastern white pine for birds in Manitoba

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter. Native to Manitoba, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Pinus strobus
Native status
Native in Manitoba
Hardiness zones
Canada 1a–3b
What birds get from it
conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
Manitoba birds supported
89
Nesting birds among them
87

Growing conditions in Manitoba

Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.

Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.

Manitoba birds that use Eastern white pine

Summer breeders (61)

Eastern Bluebird, 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, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird

Winter visitors (2)

Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll

Very cold winters to −30°F.

Nesting season it supports in Manitoba

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

  • 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
  • American Robin — May–July
  • Song Sparrow — May–August
  • Northern Flicker — May–June

Native plants to pair with Eastern white pine in Manitoba

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Frequently asked

Is Eastern white pine native to Manitoba?

Yes. Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) is recorded as native in Manitoba. Manitoba spans Canada 1a–3b.

What birds does Eastern white pine attract in Manitoba?

In Manitoba, Eastern white pine supports 89 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.

Does Eastern white pine help nesting birds in Manitoba?

87 of those birds nest in Manitoba: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).

Which winter birds use Eastern white pine in Manitoba?

Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in Manitoba during the cold months.

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Manitoba
  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.