Nevada · Year-round resident

Cassin's Finchs in Nevada

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

Finches (Fringillidae)Cassin's FinchHaemorhous cassinii

Status in Nevada: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–10a

When to expect Cassin's finches in Nevada

Cassin's Finchs 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: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.

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

Nesting in Nevada

Across Nevada, Cassin's finches typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cup high in conifers. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 11–14 days.

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

Cassin's Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine, rabbitbrush for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nevada plants that attract Cassin's finches

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover Cassin's finches 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.

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Rocky Mountain bee plant

Cleome serrulata · Perennial

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

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Feeding Cassin's finches through the Nevada year

Mountain finch that descends to foothill feeders in winter.

Best foods: Sunflower, Mixed seed.
In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.

Full diet breakdown for Cassin's finches · Best feeder for Cassin's finches

Frequently asked

Are Cassin's finches in Nevada year-round?

Yes. Cassin's Finchs are year-round residents in Nevada.

When do Cassin's finches nest in Nevada?

Nesting in Nevada typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.

What native plants attract Cassin's finches in Nevada?

Wild bergamot, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for Cassin's finches.

Cassin's Finchs in other regions

Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Montana New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Nevada

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Mountain Chickadee Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Spotted Towhee Gambel's Quail California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Black Phoebe Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Cactus Wren Verdin Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove White-winged Dove

Sources

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.