White spruce for birds in Alaska
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Alaska, where it feeds or shelters 55 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Alaska
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Alaska birds supported
- 55
- Nesting birds among them
- 55
Growing conditions in Alaska
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
Alaska birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (22)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Steller's Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Common Raven, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (33)
American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Redpoll, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, American Kestrel, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey, Merlin, Swamp Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Alaska
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use White spruce:
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
- Red-winged Blackbird — May–July
- Pine Siskin — May–June
Native plants to pair with White spruce in Alaska
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Alaska?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Alaska. Alaska spans USDA 1a–8a.
What birds does White spruce attract in Alaska?
In Alaska, White spruce supports 55 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Alaska?
55 of those birds nest in Alaska: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), American Robin (May–July).
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.