Prickly pear for birds in Nevada
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens. Native to Nevada, where it feeds or shelters 69 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Opuntia engelmannii
- Native status
- Native in Nevada
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, seed
- Nevada birds supported
- 69
- Nesting birds among them
- 62
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 Prickly pear
Year-round residents (41)
Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Juniper Titmouse, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Gila Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Brown-headed Cowbird, Phainopepla, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon, Canada Goose, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Cactus Wren, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (21)
Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Fox Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Hermit Thrush, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher, American Coot, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (7)
American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Bohemian Waxwing
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 Prickly pear:
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- House Finch — April–August
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- American Robin — April–July
- Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Chipping Sparrow — April–July
- Northern Flicker — April–June
- Red-winged Blackbird — April–July
- Evening Grosbeak — June–July
Native plants to pair with Prickly pear in Nevada
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Frequently asked
Is Prickly pear native to Nevada?
Yes. Prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii) is recorded as native in Nevada. Nevada spans USDA 4a–10a.
What birds does Prickly pear attract in Nevada?
In Nevada, Prickly pear supports 69 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco.
Does Prickly pear help nesting birds in Nevada?
62 of those birds nest in Nevada: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), House Finch (April–August), Mourning Dove (March–September), American Robin (April–July).
Which winter birds use Prickly pear in Nevada?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Pine Grosbeak, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Bohemian Waxwing 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.