Willow (Bebb) for birds in Nevada
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to Nevada, where it feeds or shelters 117 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in Nevada
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Nevada birds supported
- 117
- Nesting birds among them
- 111
Growing conditions in Nevada
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
Nevada birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (65)
Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, 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, Northern Mockingbird, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Verdin, 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, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (46)
House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Fox Sparrow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-winged Dove, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, 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, Vermilion 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, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (6)
American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur
Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Nesting season it supports in Nevada
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
- 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
- Song Sparrow — April–August
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in Nevada
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to Nevada?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in Nevada. Nevada spans USDA 4a–10a.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in Nevada?
In Nevada, 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 Nevada?
111 of those birds nest in Nevada: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), White-breasted Nuthatch (April–June).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in Nevada?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Nevada during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nevada
- 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.