Nunavut · Perennial

Fireweed for birds in Nunavut

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower. Native to Nunavut, where it feeds or shelters 14 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Chamaenerion angustifolium
Native status
Native in Nunavut
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a
What birds get from it
nectar, seed
Nunavut birds supported
14
Nesting birds among them
14

Growing conditions in Nunavut

Arctic tundra across the mainland and Arctic Archipelago.

A few weeks of summer thaw when tundra birds nest.

Nunavut birds that use Fireweed

Nesting season it supports in Nunavut

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

  • Dark-eyed Junco — June–July
  • Common Redpoll — July
  • American Tree Sparrow — July
  • White-crowned Sparrow — June–July
  • Mallard — April–June
  • Canada Goose — April–June
  • Savannah Sparrow — June–July
  • Harris's Sparrow — July
  • Snow Bunting — July
  • Lapland Longspur — July

Native plants to pair with Fireweed in Nunavut

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Frequently asked

Is Fireweed native to Nunavut?

Yes. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is recorded as native in Nunavut. Nunavut spans Canada 0a.

What birds does Fireweed attract in Nunavut?

In Nunavut, Fireweed supports 14 backyard birds, including Dark-eyed Junco, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Mallard, Canada Goose.

Does Fireweed help nesting birds in Nunavut?

14 of those birds nest in Nunavut: Dark-eyed Junco (June–July), Common Redpoll (July), American Tree Sparrow (July), White-crowned Sparrow (June–July).

Sources

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