Paper birch for birds in Yukon
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter. Native to Yukon, where it feeds or shelters 74 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Betula papyrifera
- Native status
- Native in Yukon
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1b
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Yukon birds supported
- 74
- Nesting birds among them
- 74
Growing conditions in Yukon
Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.
Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.
Yukon birds that use Paper birch
Year-round residents (19)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, 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, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (55)
American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Redpoll, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, 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, 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, Vesper Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Horned Lark, Common Redpoll, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Yukon
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
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
Native plants to pair with Paper birch in Yukon
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Frequently asked
Is Paper birch native to Yukon?
Yes. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is recorded as native in Yukon. Yukon spans Canada 0a–1b.
What birds does Paper birch attract in Yukon?
In Yukon, 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 Yukon?
74 of those birds nest in Yukon: 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 — Yukon
- 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.