Evening Grosbeaks in Nevada
When evening grosbeaks are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Nevada
Evening Grosbeaks 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 maple, box elder and ash seeds.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, evening grosbeaks typically nest from June–July. Nest site: loose cup high in conifers. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 13–14 days.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Evening Grosbeaks 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 evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover evening grosbeaks use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Nevada year
Flocks can empty a feeder in a morning during irruption years; populations have declined sharply since the 1980s.
- Best foods: Black-oil sunflower.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract evening grosbeaks 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 evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
Sources
- Evening Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Evening Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Evening Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
- 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.