Tamarack for birds in Quebec
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls. Native to Quebec, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Larix laricina
- Native status
- Native in Quebec
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Quebec birds supported
- 89
- Nesting birds among them
- 87
Growing conditions in Quebec
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Warm, humid summers in the south.
Quebec birds that use Tamarack
Year-round residents (29)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (58)
Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, 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, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, 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, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (2)
Long, cold, snowy winters.
Nesting season it supports in Quebec
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Tamarack:
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- 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
Native plants to pair with Tamarack in Quebec
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Tamarack native to Quebec?
Yes. Tamarack (Larix laricina) is recorded as native in Quebec. Quebec spans Canada 0a–5b.
What birds does Tamarack attract in Quebec?
In Quebec, Tamarack supports 89 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Tamarack help nesting birds in Quebec?
87 of those birds nest in Quebec: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use Tamarack in Quebec?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in Quebec during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Quebec
- 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.