Paper birch for birds in Northwest Territories
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 74 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Betula papyrifera
- Native status
- Native in Northwest Territories
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1a
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Northwest Territories birds supported
- 74
- Nesting birds among them
- 74
Growing conditions in Northwest Territories
Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Brief summers with midnight sun.
Northwest Territories birds that use Paper birch
Year-round residents (17)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Common Raven, Great Horned Owl, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Hoary Redpoll, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (57)
American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, American Crow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Brown-headed Cowbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Horned Lark, Common Redpoll, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Northwest Territories
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Paper birch:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Robin — May–July
- Dark-eyed Junco — June–July
- White-throated Sparrow — June–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Chipping Sparrow — May–July
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
Native plants to pair with Paper birch in Northwest Territories
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Paper birch native to Northwest Territories?
Yes. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.
What birds does Paper birch attract in Northwest Territories?
In Northwest Territories, Paper birch supports 74 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow.
Does Paper birch help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?
74 of those birds nest in Northwest Territories: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), American Robin (May–July).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Northwest Territories
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.