By admin 
Having birds in your backyard is a must! They help control insects naturally, fill the air with beautiful songs, and provide a great learning experience for both kids and adults. Plus, it’s fun to see how many different types of birds you can attract to your yard.
Many homeowners already have a bird feeder or a bird bath, but there’s so much more you can do to create a welcoming space for birds and improve your yard as a wildlife habitat. Want to know how to attract more birds to your yard? We’ve got all the tips you need to turn your backyard into a birding paradise!
1. Find a Bird-Friendly Corner of Your Yard
To attract birds to your yard, start by choosing a good spot to focus your efforts. Place your feeders, bird baths, and other goodies where you can easily watch from your home. But don’t forget—it’s important to have plenty of greenery and cover nearby so the birds feel safe enough to come around. Since birds can be territorial, make sure to spread out your bird food and shelter options. This way, you’ll encourage more birds to visit your yard!
2. Provide A Variety of Feeders
If you want to attract birds to your yard, a great first step is to get a few different types of feeders. The kind of feeders you need will depend on which birds you want to invite:
- Tube feeders are perfect for finches, sparrows, and chickadees.
- Hopper feeders are popular with finches, jays, sparrows, and cardinals.
- Suet feeders attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, and starlings.
- Ground feeders are favorites of cardinals, grosbeaks, and blue jays.
- Nectar feeders are a must-have for hummingbirds and orioles.
Keep in mind that different bird species like to feed at different heights, so try hanging your feeders at various levels. Just remember, lower feeders might also attract squirrels, but there are plenty of squirrel-proof feeders out there to keep your bird food safe!
3. Buy the Right Bird Food
When you’re trying to attract birds to your yard, it’s important to know that different species have their own food preferences. Just like how you might enjoy sweet snacks over salty ones, birds look for specific foods to meet their nutritional needs.
To start, dark oil sunflower seeds and suet are great basics that can attract a wide variety of birds. You’ll also find many birdseed mixes designed to attract different species. Other tasty options include thistle seeds, safflower seeds, nuts, peanut butter, and even mealworms! If you’re unsure what food to buy for your feeder, just ask someone at your local garden center for advice—they’ll be happy to help!
4. Add a Water Source
The next step in attracting birds to your yard is to add a bird bath or some kind of water source. When birds have water available, they love to bathe daily to keep their feathers clean and healthy. You can offer shallow bird baths that are one to three inches deep or even create a small pond in your yard to help them stay clean and hydrated.
Birds are also attracted to the sound of moving water, so consider adding a pump or mister to create fresh, bubbling water. If you live in a colder area, it’s a good idea to get a heater or de-icer to keep your bird bath or pond from freezing. Birds will look for places to bathe all year round, but they often struggle to find water in winter. Having fresh water available will make your yard a popular spot for feathered friends!
5. Plant a Bird-Friendly Garden
Planting a garden with bird-friendly plants is one of the best things you can do to attract birds to your yard. Native flowers, shrubs, and trees are excellent choices because they naturally attract local birds and help strengthen the ecosystem around you.
Birds are also drawn to bright colors, especially those that match their species, thanks to their breeding instincts. Native plants often have colorful flowers and berries, so they can really help in bringing in those feathered friends.
When choosing where to plant, keep in mind that birds prefer dense shrubs and trees for shelter. Different bird species like different heights, so make sure to plant a mix. Include eye-level shrubs, low ground cover, small trees (under 15 feet), and taller trees (over 15 feet) to create a welcoming space for a variety of birds!
The Best Bird-Friendly Plants
Not sure where to get started with your garden? Check out some of our favorite plants that attract birds.
Shrubs
| Plant Name | Offering | Principal Birds Attracted |
|---|---|---|
| Glossy Abelia (Abelia grandiflora) | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Barberry (Berberis) | Fruit, protection, and nectar | Songbirds, sparrows |
| Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) | Fruit, protection, and nectar | Brown thrashers, cardinals, finches |
| Forsythia | Nectar | Sparrows, robins, cardinals |
| Daylily (Hemerocallis) | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Hibiscus | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) | Fruit | Bluebirds, brown thrushes, cedar waxwings |
| Honeysuckle (Lonicera) | Fruit, nectar | Catbirds, robins, wood thrushes |
| Firethorn (Pyracantha) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Mockingbirds, thrashers, cedar waxwings |
| Rose (Rosa) | Nectar | Catbirds, cardinals, thrashers, sparrows |
| Spirea | Nectar | Warblers, wood thrushes, robins |
| European Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Bluebirds, robins, wood thrushes |
| Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Cedar waxwings, robins, finches |
| Tea Viburnum (Viburnum setigerum) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Cedar waxwings, purple finches |
Trees
| Plant Name | Offering | Principal Birds Attracted |
|---|---|---|
| Mimosa (Albizia) | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Serviceberry (Amelanchier) | Fruit, nectar | Blue jays, cardinals, flickers |
| Birch (Betula) | Fruit | Goldfinches, warblers |
| Dogwood (Cornus) | Fruit, nectar | Thrashers, finches, robins |
| Apple & Crabapple (Malus) | Nectar | Bluebirds, flickers, hummingbirds, finches, and more |
| Oak (Quercus) | Nectar, protection | Robins, nuthatches, thrushes, grosbeaks |
Evergreens & Vines
| Plant Name | Offering | Principal Birds Attracted |
|---|---|---|
| Azalea | Nectar, protection | Hummingbirds |
| Trumpet Vine (Campsis | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Clematis | Nectar | Hummingbirds |
| Blue Holly (Ilex) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Waxwings, flickers, robins |
| Juniper (Juniperus) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Bluebirds, cardinals, sparrows |
| Honeysuckle (Lonicera) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Bluebirds, sparrows, goldfinches |
| Spruce (Picea) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Finches, grosbeaks, grouses, crossbills |
| White Pine (Pinea) | Nectar, protection | Blue jays, finches, mourning doves |
| Yew (Taxus) | Nectar, protection | Finches, robins, grosbeaks |
| Hemlock (Tsuga) | Fruit, nectar, protection | Robins, warblers, chickadees |
6. Provide Plenty of Shelter
Along with providing shelter through plants, some birds, like bluebirds, sparrows, and chickadees, love the safety and warmth of a bird box or birdhouse. It’s best to put these birdhouses on a post or tree trunk to keep them safe from ground predators.
When you install a birdhouse, make sure the entrance hole is just the right size for the birds you want to attract. This way, bigger birds, like hawks, can’t get in and spoil the cozy homes you’ve created for the smaller birds!
7. Offer Opportunities for Nesting
Once you know how to attract birds to your yard, the next step is to help them feel at home so they’ll stick around. One of the best ways to keep birds visiting all year is by encouraging them to build nests in your space.
To create a friendly environment, make sure you have plenty of bird food, shelter, bird-friendly plants, and reliable water sources. You can also help by providing nesting materials.
Just fill an empty suet cage or an old feeder with small, natural items and hang it up for the birds to find. Things like grass clippings, dried weeds and leaves, and even pet hair make great nest-building materials. Plus, since these are all organic, they’ll break down naturally and won’t create any mess in your yard!
8. Learn from Your Birds
If you want to attract birds to your yard, start by watching the birds that already visit. Each species is different, and they all have their own habits and preferences. Pay attention to when they come by, where they like to hang out, and what foods they enjoy the most. This way, you can tweak your setup over time to make your yard an even better spot for birds!
9. Make it Official
Once your yard is filled with birds, you might think about getting your backyard certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). To make it official, you’ll need to meet a few requirements:
- Three different food sources (like feeders or plants)
- One clean water source
- Two types of shelter (both natural and manmade)
- Two nesting places (again, both natural and manmade)
You’ll also need to follow practices from at least two out of three sustainable gardening categories set by the NWF. For all the details and to start the certification process, check out the NWF website. It’s a great way to involve the whole family in learning about gardening, birding, and sustainability!