White spruce for birds in Yukon
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills. Native to Yukon, where it feeds or shelters 59 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Picea glauca
- Native status
- Native in Yukon
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1b
- What birds get from it
- conifer seed and cover, insects for nestlings
- Yukon birds supported
- 59
- Nesting birds among them
- 59
Growing conditions in Yukon
Subarctic continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.
Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.
Yukon birds that use White spruce
Year-round residents (19)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Black-billed Magpie, Canada Jay, Mountain Chickadee, 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 (40)
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 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, 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 Yukon
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 Yukon
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is White spruce native to Yukon?
Yes. White spruce (Picea glauca) is recorded as native in Yukon. Yukon spans Canada 0a–1b.
What birds does White spruce attract in Yukon?
In Yukon, White spruce supports 59 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker.
Does White spruce help nesting birds in Yukon?
59 of those birds nest in Yukon: 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 — Yukon
- 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.