Nevada · Year-round resident

Northern Saw-whet Owls in Nevada

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

Owls (Strigidae)Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus

Status in Nevada: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–10a
Nest box: 2 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 10–20 ft

When to expect saw-whet owls in Nevada

Northern Saw-whet Owls 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, saw-whet owls 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.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before February — saw-whet owls begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 2 1/2 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Native Nevada plants that attract saw-whet owls

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover saw-whet owls use:

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

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.

Gambel oak

Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa · Shrub

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding saw-whet owls through the Nevada year

Top foods: None — a saw-whet box in dense conifers is the draw.
In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.

Full diet breakdown for saw-whet owls · Best feeder for saw-whet owls

Frequently asked

Are saw-whet owls in Nevada year-round?

Yes. Northern Saw-whet Owls are year-round residents in Nevada.

When do saw-whet owls nest in Nevada?

Nesting in Nevada typically runs March–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–7 eggs, incubated for 27–29 days.

What native plants attract saw-whet owls in Nevada?

Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for saw-whet owls.

What size birdhouse hole do saw-whet owls need?

2 1/2 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 10–20 ft.

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 Cassin's Finch 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 American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Western Tanager Hooded Oriole Phainopepla Black-throated Sparrow Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Vermilion Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Burrowing Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Blue Grosbeak White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Cactus Wren Greater Roadrunner Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Rock Pigeon

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.