Rabbitbrush for birds in Oregon
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows. Native to Oregon, where it feeds or shelters 111 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Ericameria nauseosa
- Native status
- Native in Oregon
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9b
- What birds get from it
- seed, insects for nestlings
- Oregon birds supported
- 111
- Nesting birds among them
- 106
Growing conditions in Oregon
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.
Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.
Oregon birds that use Rabbitbrush
Year-round residents (69)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, California Quail, Western Bluebird, Black Phoebe, Bewick's Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Western Screech-Owl, Hooded Merganser, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Brewer's Blackbird, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (37)
Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Kingbird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (5)
American Tree Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur
Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Nesting season it supports in Oregon
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
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
- House Finch — April–August
- Purple Finch — May–July
- Mourning Dove — March–September
Native plants to pair with Rabbitbrush in Oregon
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Rabbitbrush native to Oregon?
Yes. Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) is recorded as native in Oregon. Oregon spans USDA 4b–9b.
What birds does Rabbitbrush attract in Oregon?
In Oregon, Rabbitbrush supports 111 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Rabbitbrush help nesting birds in Oregon?
106 of those birds nest in Oregon: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Rabbitbrush in Oregon?
Winter visitors American Tree Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Merlin, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Oregon during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oregon
- 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.