Willow (Bebb) for birds in British Columbia
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to British Columbia, where it feeds or shelters 115 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in British Columbia
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- British Columbia birds supported
- 115
- Nesting birds among them
- 111
Growing conditions in British Columbia
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
British Columbia birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (49)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Purple Finch, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, California Quail, Bewick's Wren, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Western Screech-Owl, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (62)
American Goldfinch, House Wren, Mourning Dove, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wood Duck, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, 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, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Merlin, Lewis's Woodpecker, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird
Winter visitors (4)
Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll
Mild, wet coastal winters where Anna's Hummingbirds now overwinter; cold interior winters.
Nesting season it supports in British Columbia
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
- Downy Woodpecker — May–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — May–June
- American Goldfinch — August–September
- White-breasted Nuthatch — May–June
- House Wren — June–August
- House Finch — May–August
- Purple Finch — June–July
- Mourning Dove — April–September
- American Robin — May–July
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in British Columbia
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to British Columbia?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in British Columbia. British Columbia spans Canada 1a–9a.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, Willow (Bebb) supports 115 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in British Columbia?
111 of those birds nest in British Columbia: Black-capped Chickadee (May–July), Downy Woodpecker (May–June), Hairy Woodpecker (May–June), American Goldfinch (August–September).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in British Columbia?
Winter visitors Common Redpoll, American Tree Sparrow, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll use it in British Columbia during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — British Columbia
- 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.