White spruce for birds in Northwest Territories
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Northwest Territories, where it feeds or shelters 60 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Northwest Territories
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1a
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Northwest Territories birds supported
- 60
- Nesting birds among them
- 60
Growing conditions in Northwest Territories
Subarctic boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Brief summers with midnight sun.
Northwest Territories birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (18)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Canada Jay, Common Raven, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Bald Eagle, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-winged Crossbill
Summer breeders (42)
American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Rusty Blackbird
Nesting season it supports in Northwest Territories
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
- Pileated Woodpecker — May–June
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker — June
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
- Red-winged Blackbird — May–July
Native plants to pair with White spruce in Northwest Territories
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Northwest Territories?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories spans Canada 0a–1a.
What birds does White spruce attract in Northwest Territories?
In Northwest Territories, White spruce supports 60 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Northwest Territories?
60 of those birds nest in Northwest Territories: 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 — Northwest Territories
- 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.