White spruce for birds in Manitoba
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Manitoba, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Manitoba
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Manitoba birds supported
- 89
- Nesting birds among them
- 87
Growing conditions in Manitoba
Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.
Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.
Manitoba birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (26)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (61)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Merganser, 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, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Swamp Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (2)
Very cold winters to −30°F.
Nesting season it supports in Manitoba
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use White spruce:
- Eastern Bluebird — May–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–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
Native plants to pair with White spruce in Manitoba
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Manitoba?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Manitoba. Manitoba spans Canada 1a–3b.
What birds does White spruce attract in Manitoba?
In Manitoba, White spruce supports 89 backyard birds, including Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Manitoba?
87 of those birds nest in Manitoba: Eastern Bluebird (May–August), Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use White spruce in Manitoba?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Common Redpoll use it in Manitoba during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Manitoba
- 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.