Red-osier dogwood for birds in Ontario
Fruit and cover. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 30 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Cornus sericea
- 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
- 30
- Nesting birds among them
- 29
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 Red-osier dogwood
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 (19)
Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, 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 Red-osier dogwood:
- Northern Cardinal — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- House Wren — 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
Native plants to pair with Red-osier dogwood in Ontario
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Red-osier dogwood native to Ontario?
Yes. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).
What birds does Red-osier dogwood attract in Ontario?
In Ontario, Red-osier dogwood supports 30 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin.
Does Red-osier dogwood help nesting birds in Ontario?
29 of those birds nest in Ontario: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), House Wren (May–August), House Finch (April–August).
Which winter birds use Red-osier dogwood 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.