Willow (Bebb) for birds in Colorado
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to Colorado, where it feeds or shelters 117 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in Colorado
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Colorado birds supported
- 117
- Nesting birds among them
- 113
Growing conditions in Colorado
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
Colorado birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (62)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, 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, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Gambel's Quail, Mountain Bluebird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher, 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, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (51)
House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Western Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, 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, Scissor-tailed 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, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (4)
American Tree Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur
Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Nesting season it supports in Colorado
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 — April–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
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- American Robin — April–July
- Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in Colorado
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to Colorado?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in Colorado. Colorado spans USDA 3a–7b.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in Colorado?
In Colorado, Willow (Bebb) supports 117 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in Colorado?
113 of those birds nest in Colorado: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), American Goldfinch (July–September).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in Colorado?
Winter visitors American Tree Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Colorado during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- 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.