Nevada · Year-round resident

American Crows in Nevada

When American are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.

Crows and jays (Corvidae)American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
Status in Nevada
Year-round resident
Nesting window
March–June
Broods
1 per season
Hardiness zones
USDA 4a–10a

When to expect American in Nevada

American Crows live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.

Nesting in Nevada

Across Nevada, American typically nest from March–June. Plan around that window: February for setup, June for clean-out.

Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.

  • American Crows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, gambel oak for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Native Nevada plants that attract American

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover American use:

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rocky Mountain bee plant
Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Feeding American through the Nevada year

  • Top foods: Cracked corn, Peanuts in the shell.
  • In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American

Frequently asked

Are American in Nevada year-round?

Yes. American Crows are year-round residents in Nevada.

When do American nest in Nevada?

Nesting in Nevada typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–9 eggs, incubated for 17–21 days.

What native plants attract American in Nevada?

Wild bergamot, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for American.

American Crows in other regions

Other backyard birds in Nevada

Black-capped ChickadeeDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenHouse FinchMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperRed-winged BlackbirdEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinNorthern MockingbirdCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowYellow-rumped WarblerEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingWoodhouse's Scrub-JayBlack-billed MagpieMountain ChickadeeBushtitJuniper TitmousePygmy NuthatchAnna's HummingbirdBlack-chinned HummingbirdBroad-tailed HummingbirdCosta's HummingbirdLesser GoldfinchCassin's FinchSpotted TowheeGambel's QuailCalifornia QuailWestern BluebirdMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeBlack PhoebeGila WoodpeckerLadder-backed WoodpeckerCactus WrenVerdinBewick's WrenWhite-crowned SparrowFox SparrowViolet-green SwallowBlack-headed GrosbeakLazuli BuntingBullock's OrioleEurasian Collared-DoveWhite-winged DoveCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWild TurkeyMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillWestern TanagerHooded OriolePhainopeplaBlack-throated SparrowLark SparrowGreen-tailed TowheePinyon JayClark's NutcrackerWestern Screech-OwlHooded MerganserBand-tailed PigeonYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartYellow-breasted ChatOrange-crowned WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoLeast FlycatcherWestern KingbirdVermilion FlycatcherAsh-throated FlycatcherCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBurrowing OwlLewis's WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerWhite-headed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowVesper SparrowSnow BuntingLapland LongspurHorned LarkBlue GrosbeakWhite-winged CrossbillGray-crowned Rosy-FinchBohemian WaxwingCactus WrenGreater RoadrunnerBobolinkYellow-headed BlackbirdBrewer's BlackbirdGreat-tailed GrackleRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. American Crow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. American Crow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. American Crow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
  5. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  6. 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.