Willow (Bebb) for birds in New Mexico
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to New Mexico, where it feeds or shelters 121 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in New Mexico
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- New Mexico birds supported
- 121
- Nesting birds among them
- 108
Growing conditions in New Mexico
Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.
Hot, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.
New Mexico birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (73)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, European Starling, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Gambel's Quail, Western Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Gila Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Pyrrhuloxia, Bewick's Wren, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Inca Dove, American Crow, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, American Kestrel, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Western Screech-Owl, Vermilion Flycatcher, Canada Goose, American Coot, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Horned Lark, Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (35)
House Wren, Common Grackle, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, White-winged Dove, Gray Catbird, Western Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Lark Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Warbling Vireo, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cliff Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Varied Bunting, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Winter visitors (13)
American Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Green-tailed Towhee, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.
Nesting season it supports in New Mexico
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
- 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
Native plants to pair with Willow (Bebb) in New Mexico
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to New Mexico?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in New Mexico. New Mexico spans USDA 4b–9a.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, Willow (Bebb) supports 121 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in New Mexico?
108 of those birds nest in New Mexico: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in New Mexico?
Winter visitors American Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Green-tailed Towhee, Hooded Merganser, Orange-crowned Warbler, Merlin, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Lewis's Woodpecker, Yellow-headed Blackbird use it in New Mexico during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Mexico
- 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.