Hackberry (desert) for birds in Arizona
Thorny cover with orange fruit favored by thrashers and cardinals. Native to Arizona, where it feeds or shelters 94 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Celtis pallida
- Native status
- Native in Arizona
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–10b
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, insects for nestlings
- Arizona birds supported
- 94
- Nesting birds among them
- 83
Growing conditions in Arizona
Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.
Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
Arizona birds that use Hackberry (desert)
Year-round residents (55)
Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, House Finch, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, European Starling, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Juniper Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Hooded Oriole, Phainopepla, Western Screech-Owl, Band-tailed Pigeon, Vermilion Flycatcher, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle
Summer breeders (28)
Purple Martin, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (11)
Cedar Waxwing, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.
Nesting season it supports in Arizona
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Hackberry (desert):
- Northern Cardinal — March–August
- Eastern Bluebird — March–August
- Purple Martin — April–July
- Hairy Woodpecker — March–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — March–June
- House Wren — April–August
- House Finch — March–August
- American Robin — March–July
- Song Sparrow — March–August
- Northern Flicker — March–June
Native plants to pair with Hackberry (desert) in Arizona
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Hackberry (desert) native to Arizona?
Yes. Hackberry (desert) (Celtis pallida) is recorded as native in Arizona. Arizona spans USDA 4b–10b.
What birds does Hackberry (desert) attract in Arizona?
In Arizona, Hackberry (desert) supports 94 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Hackberry (desert) help nesting birds in Arizona?
83 of those birds nest in Arizona: Northern Cardinal (March–August), Eastern Bluebird (March–August), Purple Martin (April–July), Hairy Woodpecker (March–June).
Which winter birds use Hackberry (desert) in Arizona?
Winter visitors Cedar Waxwing, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird use it in Arizona during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- 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.