White spruce for birds in Wyoming
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Wyoming, where it feeds or shelters 89 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Wyoming
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Wyoming birds supported
- 89
- Nesting birds among them
- 85
Growing conditions in Wyoming
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Short, warm summers with cool nights.
Wyoming birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (43)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Eastern Screech-Owl, European Starling, Steller's Jay, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red Crossbill, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Western Screech-Owl, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird
Summer breeders (42)
House Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Pine Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (4)
Common Redpoll, Hooded Merganser, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill
Cold, very windy winters.
Nesting season it supports in Wyoming
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
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- American Robin — May–July
- Song Sparrow — May–August
- Northern Flicker — May–June
- Red-headed Woodpecker — June–July
- Red-breasted Nuthatch — June
Native plants to pair with White spruce in Wyoming
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Wyoming?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Wyoming. Wyoming spans USDA 3a–5b.
What birds does White spruce attract in Wyoming?
In Wyoming, White spruce supports 89 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Wyoming?
85 of those birds nest in Wyoming: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (May–June).
Which winter birds use White spruce in Wyoming?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, Hooded Merganser, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill use it in Wyoming during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wyoming
- 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.