Making Your Garden Bird-Friendly

Birdwatching and gardening are two hobbies that go perfectly together! Birds don’t just bring beauty, movement, and sweet songs to our gardens—they also help by controlling pests naturally and spreading seeds. But have you ever wondered why some gardens are full of birds while others seem to be ignored?

The secret to attracting more birds is simple: offer them a variety of plants that provide seeds, fruit, and nectar. This gives them the food they need all year long. But it’s not just about food—you’ll also want to create a space with water, shelter, and good spots for nesting.

Here are 15 plants that birds love, from hummingbirds to colorful songbirds, plus some design tips to make your garden a welcoming place for your feathered friends.

ANNUALS & PERENNIALS FOR BIRDS

Coneflower (Echinacea spp. & hybrids)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
• Height: 2 to 5 feet tall

Coneflowers are a big hit with birds! After the flowers fade, the seed-rich cones provide plenty of food for birds like blue jays, finches, and cardinals, keeping them fed well into the fall. Plus, the dried cones add a nice touch to your winter garden and help this native wildflower spread naturally by reseeding. Want to know more? Learn how to grow coneflowers!

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Late July until frost
• Height: 10 inches to 7 feet, depending on the variety

Black-Eyed Susans are perfect for attracting birds, just like coneflowers. Their late-summer blooms provide a great food source for seed-eating birds like goldfinches, chickadees, cardinals, and white-breasted nuthatches. While deadheading (removing old flowers) can help the plants bloom longer, it’s a good idea to leave some flowerheads as the season ends. This way, birds can enjoy the seeds through the fall and winter.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 3-10
• Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
• Height: 1 to 6 feet tall

Anise hyssop, also known as hummingbird mint, is a favorite for attracting hummingbirds with its long-blooming, tubular flowers all summer. Bees and butterflies love it too! In the fall, leave the flowers on the plant to dry. The tiny seeds will become a tasty treat for finches, sparrows, and other small songbirds later in the season.

Sunflower (Helianthus spp.)

• Type: Annual or perennial
• Zones: 4-8 for perennial varieties
• Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
• Height: Up to 16 feet tall

Sunflowers are a bird’s best friend! While all sunflowers produce seeds, the annual varieties have the biggest blooms and seed heads, offering plenty of food for birds, especially as they prepare for migration. Plus, sunflowers attract lots of insect pollinators, which are also an important part of a bird’s diet.

Honeysuckle Vine (Lonicera spp.)

• Type: Perennial vine
• Zones: 4-9
• Bloom Time: Spring through mid-summer, with some varieties blooming into fall
• Height: Climbs 10 to 20 feet

Hummingbirds love the colorful, nectar-filled flowers of the honeysuckle vine, making it a perfect addition to your garden. In the fall, the bright red berries attract songbirds too. As the plant matures, it also provides great nesting materials and shelter for birds looking for a safe spot.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 3-9
• Height: 3 to 7 feet

Switchgrass is a native ornamental grass that produces delicate seed plumes lasting well into winter, making it a perfect food source for all kinds of seed-eating birds, from wetland birds to songbirds and gamebirds. Its tall, sturdy clumps also stay upright throughout winter, offering great cover and shelter for birds and other wildlife.

Hosta (Hosta spp. & hybrids)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Early to late summer, depending on the variety
• Height: 6 to 48 inches tall; 1 to 6 feet wide

Hostas are mostly known for their gorgeous, shade-loving leaves, but their pretty tubular flowers are also a favorite for hummingbirds thanks to the nectar they provide. If you let the flower stalks stay after blooming, they’ll form seed pods that birds like juncos, cardinals, and chickadees will enjoy later on.

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

• Type: Annual
• Bloom Time: Late spring until frost
• Height: Up to 4 feet tall

Zinnias are bright and colorful flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. After the flowers fade, it’s a good idea to leave some of the spent blooms on the plant. Goldfinches love the seeds and will even pull off the leftover petals for a tasty snack!

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

• Type: Perennial
• Zones: 4-8
• Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
• Height: 2 to 5 feet tall

Milkweed is not only crucial for monarch butterflies but also supports many bird species. The nectar-rich flowers attract a wide range of insects, which are a key part of many birds’ diets. When the plant goes to seed, the fluffy white fibers that carry the seeds away are perfect for birds to use as nesting material and to keep warm in their winter homes.

SHRUBS & TREES FOR BIRDS

Dogwood (Cornus spp.)

• Type: Deciduous tree or shrub
• Zones: 2-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-March through May
• Height: Shrubs 3 to 5 feet tall; trees 10 to 25 feet tall

Dogwood trees and shrubs are mostly loved for their beautiful white or pink flowers that bloom in spring. But in the fall, they produce plump red berries that are a big hit with birds, providing food throughout the winter. While dogwood berries aren’t edible for humans, they’re enjoyed by at least 36 bird species, including cardinals, bluebirds, juncos, and waxwings. Plus, some birds like to build their nests on the tree’s wide, horizontal branches!

Crabapple (Malus spp.)

• Type: Deciduous tree
• Zones: 4-8
• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring
• Height: 15 to 20 feet; under 10 feet for dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties

Crabapple trees are a wonderful addition to any bird-friendly garden because they offer both delicious fruit and lovely, fragrant flowers. The bright fruit ripens from late summer to mid-fall and attracts nearly 30 bird species, including robins, blue jays, cedar waxwings, and woodpeckers. In spring, the beautiful flowers draw in hummingbirds, inviting them to sip on their sweet nectar.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa)

• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Zones: 5-9
• Bloom Time: Late spring to mid-summer
• Height: 3 to 8 feet

Beautyberry is just as lovely as its name suggests! This shrub produces lots of bright purple berries that catch the eye of both birds and people. These juicy berries are actually one-seeded fruits called drupes, and they become a tasty treat for over 40 different species of songbirds in the fall.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

• Type: Evergreen tree, shrub, or groundcover
• Zones: 2-10
• Height: 6 inches to 130 feet tall; 1 to 25 feet wide, depending on the variety

Junipers are fantastic for birds! They produce lots of berries that songbirds and other wildlife love. Plus, their thick branches offer cozy shelter for birds during the cold winter months. In the spring, you might even spot songbirds nesting deep in the branches, making it a great home for them!

Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)

• Type: Deciduous or evergreen shrub
• Zones: 2-11
• Bloom time: Spring to early summer
• Height: 3 to 20 feet tall

Viburnums are a great choice for your garden! In spring, they burst into beautiful clusters of flowers, and in winter, they produce plenty of colorful berries that birds just can’t resist. You can find viburnum varieties with berries in yellow, red, pink, and blue, attracting all sorts of birds. Plus, their thick leaves create a nice shelter for small songbirds to build their nests.

Canadian Serviceberry (Amalanchier canadensis)

• Type: Deciduous tree or large shrub
• Zones: 4-8
• Bloom time: Mid-spring
• Height: 15 to 30 feet tall

The Canadian serviceberry, also known as juneberry, is a fantastic native plant! In early summer, it produces sweet, blueberry-like fruits that are loved by over 35 species of birds, including cedar waxwings, robins, catbirds, thrushes, and Baltimore orioles. Not only do birds enjoy the tasty berries, but the beautiful white flowers that bloom in spring also attract insects, providing even more food for the birds.

Also Read: 9 Steps to Attract Birds to Your Yard

7 TIPS FOR A BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN

1. Choose Native Plants
   Planting a garden with native plants is a fantastic way to attract birds and wildlife to your yard. Plus, it helps you save on resources needed to keep your garden healthy and vibrant. You don’t have to plant only native species, but try to include a few that provide the berries, nectar, and seeds that local birds rely on throughout the year. To find the best native plants for your area, check out the National Audubon Society’s native plant database.
2. Provide a Berry Banquet
   Berry-producing shrubs and trees are a natural food source for many birds. With some thoughtful planning, you can provide them with food from midsummer all the way into winter. To cater to different birds’ tastes, choose plants that produce berries in various colors and sizes. Take a look at “Berries for Year-Round Color” for some great ideas!
3. Be Diverse
   Having a variety of plants is key to creating a backyard that birds will love to visit. Different types of trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants attract different birds. The more variety you have, the more likely you are to spot interesting or rare birds! Rachael Lanicci, the author of Garden Secrets for Attracting Birds, points out that it’s also important to pick plants that produce fruit or seeds at different times of the year, so there’s always food available for the birds.
4. Plant in Layers
   In nature, areas have layers that provide important spaces for different bird species, according to the Morton Arboretum. Some birds like the tops of tall trees, while others prefer lower branches or shrubs. To create a welcoming bird haven in your backyard, include plants, shrubs, and trees of different heights.
5. Avoid Pesticides
   Insects are a main food source for many birds, especially when they are feeding their young. Plus, many pesticides contain harmful chemicals that can be toxic to birds and other wildlife, so it’s best to avoid using them.
6. Give Them Shelter
   Not all birds migrate for the winter. Many birds, like blue jays, woodpeckers, and chickadees, stay close to home. To help these birds stay warm during the cold months, create natural roosting spots by building brush piles and letting protective plant thickets grow. Dense evergreens, like junipers and arborvitae, also offer great shelter. Adding a few birdhouses is another simple way to provide winter shelter and safe nesting sites in spring.
7. Provide Water Year-Round
   Birds need water for drinking, bathing, and keeping cool. During dry spells or winter when ponds freeze, a birdbath can be a lifesaver. If you’re buying a birdbath for the first time, pick one with a shallow bowl that’s about 2 to 3 inches deep so birds can drink without getting soaked. You can also make your own simple birdbath using a cake pan or flower pot tray—just follow some easy DIY instructions from the National Audubon Society. If you want to keep the water from freezing in winter, think about getting a birdbath heater that turns on when it gets cold.