Tall goldenrod for birds in Ontario
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 123 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Solidago altissima
- Native status
- Native in Ontario
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Ontario birds supported
- 123
- Nesting birds among them
- 117
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 Tall goldenrod
Year-round residents (44)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (73)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Wood Thrush, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Meadowlark, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Dickcissel, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (6)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
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 Tall goldenrod:
- Northern Cardinal — May–August
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–July
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
Native plants to pair with Tall goldenrod in Ontario
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Tall goldenrod native to Ontario?
Yes. Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).
What birds does Tall goldenrod attract in Ontario?
In Ontario, Tall goldenrod supports 123 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Tall goldenrod help nesting birds in Ontario?
117 of those birds nest in Ontario: Northern Cardinal (May–August), Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Tall goldenrod in Ontario?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll 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.