Northwest Territories · Tree

Pin cherry for birds in Northwest Territories

Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 17 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Prunus pensylvanica
Native status
Native in Northwest Territories
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–1a
What birds get from it
fruit and berries
Northwest Territories birds supported
17
Nesting birds among them
17

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 Pin cherry

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 Pin cherry:

  • American Robin — May–July
  • White-throated Sparrow — June–July
  • Northern Flicker — May–June
  • Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak — June–July
  • Cedar Waxwing — July–August
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler — June–July
  • Eastern Kingbird — June–July
  • Canada Jay — April
  • Fox Sparrow — June–July

Native plants to pair with Pin cherry in Northwest Territories

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Viburnum trilobum · Shrub

Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.

Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi · Shrub

Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.

Empetrum nigrum · Shrub

Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.

Frequently asked

Is Pin cherry native to Northwest Territories?

Yes. Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.

What birds does Pin cherry attract in Northwest Territories?

In Northwest Territories, Pin cherry supports 17 backyard birds, including American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing.

Does Pin cherry help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?

17 of those birds nest in Northwest Territories: American Robin (May–July), White-throated Sparrow (June–July), Northern Flicker (May–June), Pileated Woodpecker (May–June).

Sources

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