Prickly pear for birds in New Mexico
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens. Native to New Mexico, where it feeds or shelters 71 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Opuntia engelmannii
- Native status
- Native in New Mexico
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9a
- What birds get from it
- fruit and berries, seed
- New Mexico birds supported
- 71
- Nesting birds among them
- 65
Growing conditions in New Mexico
Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.
Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.
New Mexico birds that use Prickly pear
Year-round residents (47)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Juniper Titmouse, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Gambel's Quail, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Gila Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Inca Dove, American Crow, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Phainopepla, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Band-tailed Pigeon, Canada Goose, American Coot, Horned Lark, Cactus Wren, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (18)
Common Grackle, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, White-winged Dove, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (6)
American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, White-crowned Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.
Nesting season it supports in New Mexico
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Prickly pear:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- 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
- Common Grackle — April–June
Native plants to pair with Prickly pear in New Mexico
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.
Frequently asked
Is Prickly pear native to New Mexico?
Yes. Prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii) is recorded as native in New Mexico. New Mexico spans USDA 4b–9a.
What birds does Prickly pear attract in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, Prickly pear supports 71 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin.
Does Prickly pear help nesting birds in New Mexico?
65 of those birds nest in New Mexico: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), House Finch (April–August), Mourning Dove (March–September).
Which winter birds use Prickly pear in New Mexico?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, Cedar Waxwing, White-crowned Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow-headed Blackbird use it in New Mexico during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Mexico
- 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.