Pin cherry for birds in Ontario
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 29 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Prunus pensylvanica
- Native status
- Native in Ontario
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries
- Ontario birds supported
- 29
- Nesting birds among them
- 28
Growing conditions in Ontario
Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.
Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.
Ontario birds that use Pin cherry
Year-round residents (10)
Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Canada Jay, Pine Grosbeak
Summer breeders (18)
Eastern Bluebird, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wood Thrush, Eastern Kingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (1)
Cold, snowy winters; feeder flocks are dominated by chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and finches.
Nesting season it supports in Ontario
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Pin cherry:
- Northern Cardinal — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
- American Robin — May–July
- White-throated Sparrow — June–July
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Baltimore Oriole — June–July
- Orchard Oriole — June
Native plants to pair with Pin cherry in Ontario
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Pin cherry native to Ontario?
Yes. Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).
What birds does Pin cherry attract in Ontario?
In Ontario, Pin cherry supports 29 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow.
Does Pin cherry help nesting birds in Ontario?
28 of those birds nest in Ontario: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), House Finch (April–August), Purple Finch (May–July).
Which winter birds use Pin cherry in Ontario?
Winter visitors Bohemian Waxwing use it in Ontario during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada
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.