Willow (Bebb) for birds in Nebraska
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to Nebraska, where it feeds or shelters 125 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in Nebraska
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Nebraska birds supported
- 125
- Nesting birds among them
- 106
Growing conditions in Nebraska
Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.
Hot summers with thunderstorms.
Nebraska birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (45)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Screech-Owl, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Pygmy Nuthatch, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Horned Lark, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (61)
Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Eastern Phoebe, Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Spotted Towhee, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Green Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Burrowing Owl, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (19)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Cold, windy winters; the Platte River corridor holds most wintering birds.
Nesting season it supports in Nebraska
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Willow (Bebb):
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Eastern Bluebird — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- Purple Martin — May–July
- Downy Woodpecker — April–June
- Hairy Woodpecker — April–June
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- Tufted Titmouse — April–June
- White-breasted Nuthatch — April–June
- House Wren — May–August
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in Nebraska
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to Nebraska?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in Nebraska. Nebraska spans USDA 4b–5b.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, Willow (Bebb) supports 125 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Black-capped Chickadee, Purple Martin, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in Nebraska?
106 of those birds nest in Nebraska: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Purple Martin (May–July).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in Nebraska?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hooded Merganser, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch use it in Nebraska during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nebraska
- 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.