Little bluestem for birds in Nevada
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos. Native to Nevada, where it feeds or shelters 46 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Schizachyrium scoparium
- Native status
- Native in Nevada
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
- What birds get from it
- seed
- Nevada birds supported
- 46
- Nesting birds among them
- 41
Growing conditions in Nevada
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
Nevada birds that use Little bluestem
Year-round residents (28)
Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, House Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Brown-headed Cowbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Canada Goose, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (13)
Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-winged Dove, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, American Coot, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (5)
American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur
Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Nesting season it supports in Nevada
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Little bluestem:
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- House Finch — April–August
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Chipping Sparrow — April–July
- Red-winged Blackbird — April–July
- Evening Grosbeak — June–July
- Pine Siskin — April–June
- House Sparrow — April–August
Native plants to pair with Little bluestem in Nevada
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Frequently asked
Is Little bluestem native to Nevada?
Yes. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is recorded as native in Nevada. Nevada spans USDA 4a–10a.
What birds does Little bluestem attract in Nevada?
In Nevada, Little bluestem supports 46 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow.
Does Little bluestem help nesting birds in Nevada?
41 of those birds nest in Nevada: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), House Finch (April–August), Mourning Dove (March–September), Dark-eyed Junco (May–July).
Which winter birds use Little bluestem in Nevada?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Nevada during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- 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.