Perch Supply
Nevada · Shrub

Rabbitbrush for birds in Nevada

Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows. Native to Nevada, where it feeds or shelters 117 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Ericameria nauseosa
Native status
Native in Nevada
Hardiness zones
USDA 4a–10a
What birds get from it
seed, insects for nestlings
Nevada birds supported
117
Nesting birds among them
111

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 Rabbitbrush

Year-round residents (65)

Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Bewick's Wren, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Western Screech-Owl, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon

Summer breeders (46)

House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-winged Dove, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird

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 Rabbitbrush:

  • Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
  • Downy Woodpecker — April–June
  • Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
  • White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
  • House Wren — May–August
  • House Finch — April–August
  • Mourning Dove — March–September
  • American Robin — April–July
  • Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
  • Song Sparrow — April–August

Native plants to pair with Rabbitbrush in Nevada

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Douglas fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Gambel oak
Quercus gambelii · Tree

Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.

Frequently asked

Is Rabbitbrush native to Nevada?

Yes. Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) is recorded as native in Nevada. Nevada spans USDA 4a–10a.

What birds does Rabbitbrush attract in Nevada?

In Nevada, Rabbitbrush supports 117 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.

Does Rabbitbrush help nesting birds in Nevada?

111 of those birds nest in Nevada: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (April–June).

Which winter birds use Rabbitbrush in Nevada?

Winter visitors American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Nevada during the cold months.

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
  4. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  5. 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.