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

Year-round residents (1)

Hoary Redpoll

Summer breeders (13)

Dark-eyed Junco, Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Mallard, Canada Goose, Savannah Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Horned Lark, Common Redpoll, Rusty Blackbird

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

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Chokecherry

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

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.