Spotted Towhees in Nevada
When spotted towhees 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
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect spotted towhees in Nevada
Spotted Towhees 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 and acorns.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, spotted towhees typically nest from April–July. Nest site: cup on or near the ground. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 10–12 days.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Spotted Towhees 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 spotted towhees
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover spotted towhees 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.
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.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Feeding spotted towhees through the Nevada year
Scratches noisily under shrubs — leaf litter is prime habitat.
- Best foods: Millet, Sunflower chips.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for spotted towhees · Best feeder for spotted towhees
Frequently asked
Are spotted towhees in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Spotted Towhees are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do spotted towhees nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract spotted towhees in Nevada?
Wild bergamot, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for spotted towhees.
Spotted Towhees in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
Sources
- Spotted Towhee — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Spotted Towhee life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Spotted Towhee — 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.