Backyard Habitats

No matter how perfect your birdhouse may be, if the habitat is not favourable birds will not nest inside. Loud noises and heavy traffic areas can deter these birds from nesting. A heavily manicured lawn with little landscaping lacks diversity of insects for mature birds to feed their young.

Landscaping can greatly influence the birds that visit your backyard. Native birds will favour native plants to your area, so as a general rule of thumb these plants are great to add to your backyard.

There are other plants that can be added to improve bird traffic through your yard and may provide additional food or shelter. The list below summarizes some common landscape plants that will attract many different types of birds to your yard for years to come. The rating scheme is based on how effective the plant species is at attracting birds, out of ten.

Picture of a backyard landscaped for birds

Landscaping can attract birds

Deciduous Trees that Attract Birds

Scientific Name	Common Name	Can Attract	Benefit to Birds	Comments	Rating
Amelanchier spp.	Serviceberry	cardinals grosbeaks robins vireos waxwings	summer to fall fruit nest sites	great fall colour can be pruned and kept small	9
Cornus florida	Flowering Dogwood	bluebirds cardinals catbirds grosbeaks tanagers thrushes	fall fruit	can be kept small	9
Crataegus spp.	Hawthorns	blackbirds finches redwings thrushes	summer to fall fruit nest sites cover	thorns can be a nuisance see the native tree database	6
Fagus grandifolia	American Beech	blue jays ducks grouse	nest sites	great shade tree see the native tree database	7
Malus spp.	Crabapple	bluebirds cardinals catbirds finches grosbeaks tanagers thrushes	fall to winter fruit nest sites cover	must not be sterile and be a smaller apple variety see the native tree database	8
Morus spp.	Mulberry	cardinals robins waxwings	summer fruit nest sites	fruit is messy see the native tree database	10
Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum	kinglets phoebes robins starlings thrushes warblers waod ducks woodpeckers	fall fruit nest sites cover	energy rich berries see the native tree database	8
Quercus spp.	Oak	blue jays grosbeaks wood ducks	nest sites	slow growing great shade tree see the native tree database	9
Sassafras	Sassafras	blue jays cardinals doves mockingbrids	fall fruit nest sites cover	lipid rich berries	8

Coniferous Trees that Attract Birds

Scientific Name	Common Name	Can Attract	Benefit to Birds	Comments	Rating
Abies spp.	Fir	chickadees crossbills grouse	scover nest sites	see the native tree database	5
Juniperus virginiana	Eastern Red Cedar	bluebirds bobwhites doves finches flickers robins starlings waxwings	fall to winter fruit nest sites cover	produces small blue cones see the native tree database	4
Picea spp.	Spruce	crossbills warblers	summer to fall fruit nest Sites cover	choose dwarf cultivar for urban environments	9
Pinus spp.	Pine	cardinals	nest Sites	fast growing see the native tree database	9

Shrubs that Attract Birds

Scientific Name	Common Name	Can Attract	Benefit to Birds	Comments	Rating
Cornus stolonifera	Red-oiser dogwood	bluebirds catbirds cardinals grouse juncos kingbirds robins vireos	summer fruit nest sites cover	fruit has a high lipid content	8
Ilex spp.	Hollies	bluebirds robins waxwings	fall to winter fruit cover	only female plants fruit, but males must be present for this to occur	7
Juniperus communis	Common Juniper	black-capped chickadees robins waxwings	early summer to winter fruit cover	birds enjoy berry like cones	7
Myrica cerifer	Wax myrtle / Bayberry	bluebirds catbirds tree sparrows tree swallows quail	fall to winter fruit	unrestricted growth produces unusable habitat	6
Lindera benzoin	Spicebush	bobwhites catbirds flycatchers kingbirds robins	fall fruit	leaves turn yellow in fall	9
Rhus typhina	Staghorn Sumac	bluebirds cardinals catbirds chickadees starlings pileated woodpecker	fall to winter fruit	great red colour in the fall see the native tree database	9
Vaccinium spp.	Blueberries	bluebirds blue jays catbirds robins tanagers thrushes towhees	summer to fall fruit	acidic soils necessary for adequate growth	9
Viburnum spp.	Viburnums	bluebirds cardinals catbirds finches robins thrushes waxwings	fall to winter fruit nest sites cover	large showy flowers with great fall colour see the native tree database	9

Perennials that Attract Birds

Scientific Name	Common Name	Can Attract	Benefit to Birds	Comments	Rating
Campis radicans	Trumpet vine	oriels	summer nectar nest sites	fast-growing vine producing trumpet-like flowers	5
Celastrus scandens	American bittersweet	catbirds flickers mockingbirds robins starlings warblers	fall fruit	fast growing and invasive vine	5
Fragaria spp.	Strawberry	blackbirds finches gold finches hummingbirds quail thrushes waxwings	early summer fruit	small plants	9
Lonicera sempervirens	Trumpet honeysuckle	bluebirds finches goldfinches hummingbirds quail thrushes waxwings	fall fruit	attractive flowers	9
Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia creeper	bluebirds cardinals chickadees robins thrashers turkeys	fall to winter fruit nest sites cover	fast growing vine which can be difficult to control once established	5
Vitis spp.	Wild grape	cardinals robins waxwings	late summer to winter fruit nest sites cover	excellent cover for nesting songbirds	10

Return to the table of contents		Continue reading

Backyard Habitats

Deciduous Trees that Attract Birds

Scientific Name

Common Name

Can Attract

Benefit to Birds

Comments

Rating

Coniferous Trees that Attract Birds

Scientific Name

Common Name

Can Attract

Benefit to Birds

Comments

Rating

Shrubs that Attract Birds

Scientific Name

Common Name

Can Attract

Benefit to Birds

Comments

Rating

Perennials that Attract Birds

Scientific Name

Common Name

Can Attract

Benefit to Birds

Comments

Rating