Willow (Bebb) for birds in Utah
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds. Native to Utah, where it feeds or shelters 114 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Salix bebbiana
- Native status
- Native in Utah
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- What birds get from it
- insects for nestlings, seed
- Utah birds supported
- 114
- Nesting birds among them
- 110
Growing conditions in Utah
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Hot, dry summers.
Utah birds that use Willow (Bebb)
Year-round residents (64)
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, 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, 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, American Three-toed 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, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, 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, 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, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (4)
American Tree Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur
Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Nesting season it supports in Utah
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 Utah
Frequently asked
Is Willow (Bebb) native to Utah?
Yes. Willow (Bebb) (Salix bebbiana) is recorded as native in Utah. Utah spans USDA 4a–9a.
What birds does Willow (Bebb) attract in Utah?
In Utah, Willow (Bebb) supports 114 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren.
Does Willow (Bebb) help nesting birds in Utah?
110 of those birds nest in Utah: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), Downy Woodpecker (April–June), Hairy Woodpecker (April–June), American Goldfinch (July–September).
Which winter birds use Willow (Bebb) in Utah?
Winter visitors American Tree Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Utah during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Utah
- 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.