Gila Woodpeckers in Nevada
When gila woodpeckers 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
- April–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect gila woodpeckers in Nevada
Gila Woodpeckers 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 mistletoe berries and feeders.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, gila woodpeckers typically nest from April–July. Nest site: cavity in saguaro or trees. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for about 14 days, and young leave the nest after about 28 days.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Gila Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, red-osier dogwood, rocky mountain juniper for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Nevada plants that attract gila woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover gila woodpeckers use:
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Feeding gila woodpeckers through the Nevada year
Excavates saguaro cavities later used by owls, flycatchers and martins; visits hummingbird and oriole feeders.
- Best foods: Suet, Oranges, Nectar, Sunflower.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for gila woodpeckers · Best feeder for gila woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are gila woodpeckers in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Gila Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do gila woodpeckers nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs April–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for about 14 days.
What native plants attract gila woodpeckers in Nevada?
Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for gila woodpeckers.
Gila Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
Sources
- Gila Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gila Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gila Woodpecker — 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.