Tamarack for birds in British Columbia
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls. Native to British Columbia, where it feeds or shelters 95 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Larix laricina
- Native status
- Native in British Columbia
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- British Columbia birds supported
- 95
- Nesting birds among them
- 93
Growing conditions in British Columbia
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
British Columbia birds that use Tamarack
Year-round residents (44)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech-Owl, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (49)
House Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Lewis's Woodpecker, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (2)
Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Nesting season it supports in British Columbia
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Tamarack:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
Native plants to pair with Tamarack in British Columbia
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Tamarack native to British Columbia?
Yes. Tamarack (Larix laricina) is recorded as native in British Columbia. British Columbia spans Canada 1a–9a.
What birds does Tamarack attract in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, Tamarack supports 95 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin.
Does Tamarack help nesting birds in British Columbia?
93 of those birds nest in British Columbia: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Which winter birds use Tamarack in British Columbia?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in British Columbia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- 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.