Ever wonder why some gardens are always alive with birdsong, while others seem remarkably quiet? The answer very likely lies—or is "rooted"—in the plant selection. Native plants, those that naturally grow in your region, are not only pleasing to the eye but are also vital for birds to survive and thrive.
Native plants provide nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, and also offer nesting materials and shelter for some birds. Birds, plants, and insects have always been intricately linked: birds disperse plant seeds, the fruits of plants feed birds, and birds feed their young with insects that use these plants as hosts (here's a fact you might not know: 97% of land birds rely on insects for food).
Bird-Friendly Native Plants: Your Guide to a Thriving Garden Ecosystem
Below is a list of bird-friendly native plants that can provide food, shelter, or nesting materials for birds. If you'd like to learn more about native plants, we recommend searching Audubon's Native Plants Database.
1. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
- Profile: A small flowering tree known for its beautiful pink or white bracts in spring (often mistaken for petals) and its bright red fruits in autumn.
- Distribution Area: Most of the eastern and south-central United States.
- Relationship with Birds: The bright red fruits in fall and winter are a delicious treat for over 28 bird species, including American Robins, Brown Thrashers, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Flickers, Northern Mockingbirds, Northern Cardinals, and Summer Tanagers.
2. Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
- Profile: An understory shrub that produces white flowers in spring, has foliage that turns reddish-purple in autumn, and bears blue-black berries beloved by birds.
- Distribution Area: Native to the East Coast of the U.S., extending to the south-central region.
- Relationship with Birds: The blue-black berries attract songbirds such as American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Summer Tanagers, and Wood Thrushes. Birds also use its branches for shelter and nesting.
3. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Profile: An easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial with light purple to pink flowers in spring and summer.
- Distribution Area: Throughout the south-central, midwestern, and eastern U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: Mature seeds in autumn attract seed-eating birds like American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, and Blue Jays. In spring and summer, hummingbirds drink its nectar, and the pollinating insects it attracts provide food for insectivorous birds.
4. Serviceberry/Juneberry (Amelanchier spp.)
- Profile: A shrub or small tree that blooms with snowy white flowers before its leaves emerge in early spring, offers brilliant fall foliage, and produces dark purple or black fruit when ripe.
- Distribution Area: Various species are adaptable and found in many regions of the U.S. (depends on the species).
- Relationship with Birds: Delicious berries attract a wide variety of birds, such as American Goldfinches, American Robins, Blue Jays, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Cardinals, and more. Early spring nectar also benefits nectar-feeding insects, indirectly benefiting birds.
5. Native Grasses (e.g., Switchgrass, Muhly grass, Little Bluestem)
- Profile: Low-maintenance grasses offering multiple ecological benefits.
- Distribution Area: Specific native grass species are found in different regions of the U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: Provide food (seeds), nesting material, and shelter for many bird species. For example, Switchgrass can attract over 30 bird species, including quail and sparrows.
6. Sunflower (Helianthus spp.)
- Profile: Diverse species with large, vibrant flowers, acting as natural "bird feeders."
- Distribution Area: Numerous native varieties are adapted to various parts of the U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: Mature seeds in fall and winter are a favorite food for finches, chickadees, goldfinches, Blue Jays, and Northern Cardinals.
7. Trumpet Honeysuckle/Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Profile: A non-invasive native vine with trumpet-shaped red flowers and red berries.
- Distribution Area: Native to the East Coast of the U.S., extending to the south-central and midwestern regions.
- Relationship with Birds: Trumpet-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds (like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird) for nectar, while the red berries in late summer attract songbirds like American Robins, Baltimore Orioles, and Gray Catbirds.
8. American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- Profile: A shrub or small tree with small white flowers in late spring or summer, followed by dark purplish-black fruit.
- Distribution Area: Widely distributed, found in 43 of the 48 contiguous U.S. states.
- Relationship with Birds: The dark fruits in summer and fall are a vital food source for over 50 species of birds (such as American Robins, Eastern Towhees, Gray Catbirds, waxwings, and thrushes) and small mammals. Its foliage also provides nesting areas for some birds.
9. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
- Profile: Best known as a host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars, with beautiful flowers that attract many beneficial insects for birds.
- Distribution Area: Native milkweed species are found throughout the U.S., such as Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) for hot, dry areas and Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) for moist areas.
- Relationship with Birds: Some birds, like American Goldfinches, use the plant's fibers to build nests and the seed fluff to line them.
10. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Profile: A moisture-loving plant with brilliant red, long, tubular flowers.
- Distribution Area: Native to most of the U.S., including the East, Midwest, and Southwest.
- Relationship with Birds: Its nectar primarily attracts hummingbirds.
11. Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
- Profile: A vine whose winter berries are important for birds.
- Distribution Area: Found in the Great Plains and eastern U.S. Its relative, Thicket Creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea), is native to the western U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: An important winter food source for fruit-eating birds like Northern Mockingbirds, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and Blue Jays.
12. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Profile: Features showy, spherical flower heads and unique fruits, often growing in wetlands or by ponds.
- Distribution Area: Native to wetlands in California and the eastern half of the U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: Provides seeds for ducks and other waterfowl. Its flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators, indirectly benefiting birds.
13. Oak (Quercus spp.)
- Profile: Tall, majestic trees providing significant shade and are keystone species in their ecosystems.
- Distribution Area: Native oak species are found throughout the U.S., such as Shumard Oak in the Southeast and Oregon White Oak in the Pacific Northwest.
- Relationship with Birds: Many bird species use their cavities and branches for nesting and shelter. The abundant insects and acorns found on oaks are also crucial food sources for birds.
14. Dogwoods (Cornus spp.) (This is a broader category including Flowering Dogwood)
- Profile: Flowering trees of spring, with diverse species.
- Distribution Area: Examples include Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) in the Pacific Northwest, and Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) and Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) in the eastern U.S.
- Relationship with Birds: The fleshy fruits attract birds like Northern Cardinals, titmice, and bluebirds.
References / Data Sources:
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