Willow (Bebb) for birds in Alberta
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to Alberta, where it feeds or shelters 110 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in Alberta
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Alberta birds supported
- 110
- Nesting birds among them
- 104
Growing conditions in Alberta
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
Alberta birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (33)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Mallard, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western Screech-Owl, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (71)
Purple Martin, American Goldfinch, House Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Burrowing Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (6)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south.
Nesting season it supports in Alberta
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Willow (Bebb):
- Black-capped Chickadee — May–July
- Purple Martin — June–July
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Goldfinch — August–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- Purple Finch — June–July
- Mourning Dove — April–September
- American Robin — May–July
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in Alberta
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to Alberta?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in Alberta. Alberta spans Canada 2a–4b.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in Alberta?
In Alberta, Willow (Bebb) supports 110 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in Alberta?
104 of those birds nest in Alberta: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Purple Martin (June–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in Alberta?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in Alberta during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.