Creating Habitat for Birds

Ways to attract and support birds in our gardens ...

Create a bird friendly garden by providing habitat (food, shelter & water) throughout the year ...
and it all starts with native plants.

Food

Shelter and Nest Sites

Water

Provide Food

Native plants provide fruits and seeds, insects and nectar, essential food sources for songbirds.

Native Dogwood berries are an important food source for migrating birds

Caterpillars and other "bugs" are food for almost all songibrds

Lonicera sempervirens Coral Honeysuckle (5).JPG

Coral Honeysuckle is a great nectar source for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

Callicarpa americana Beautyberry (6).JPG

Seeds and Fruit for Birds

The seeds, nuts, fruits and berries of of native plants are food for many birds and small mammals. Fall fruits and berries are particularly important to sustain birds through winter and for migration.

America Goldfinches LOVE the seeds of Purple Coneflower and Black-eyed Susan!

The berries of native shrubs and trees, like this American Holly (Ilex opaca), are important sources of food in the fall and winter

The hard mast fruits, like the acorns of Oak trees are an important food source for a lot of wildlife, including birds.

Fruit Producing Shrub & Tree Suggestions for North Carolina

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Native Hollies (Ilex sps)
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Elderberry (Sambucus candensis)
Native Blueberries (Vaccinium sps)
Native Viburnums (Viburnum sps)

Winterberry is one of many hollies (Ilex) native to eastern North America. Hollies are dieocous, meaning there are seperate male and female plants. and only the female produce berries.

Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem (12).JPG

Great Seed Perennials for Birds

Native Tickseeds (Coreopsis species)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Native Sunflowers (Helianthus species)
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia species)

Native Grasses

Native grasses like this Little Bluestem provide seeds for songbirds

Limit Non-Natives and Remove/Avoid Invasives

Invasive plants are non-native plants that grow aggressively resulting in environmental, economic or human harm.

When birds eat the berries of these, they will poop them out in other locations. This is one way invasive plants planted in developed areas, like our home landscapes, end up growing and causing problems in natural spaces.

Invasive plants are a serious threat to our environment and should avoid being planted at all costs.

For more information on invasive plants

Invasive Plants

Nandina is a commonly planted non-native, that has become invasive. It also has berries that are poisonous to birds.

Insects and other "bugs"

Many adult songbirds and almost all young songbirds eat insects. Because of this,

attracting insects to our gardens is essential to attracting birds to our gardens.

Did you know?

96% of all songbirds feed their young insects

According to Doug Tallamy, one brood of chickadees requires 6,000 - 9,000 caterpillars.

That's A LOT of caterpillars!

AND since the vast majority of caterpillars can only consume the leaves of native plants, native plants are absolutely essential for both butterflies and moths, as well as songbirds.

America Goldfinches are the only songbirds that feed their young seeds.

Every other songbird feeds it's young insects.

Leave the Leaves

Many birds, like this Eastern Towhee, forage for insects (as well as seeds) down on the ground amongst fallen leaves.

This is one of many reasons why

leaving the leaves in our gardens in fall

is so important.

Protection from Pesticides

Pesticides that target insects (insecticides) or weeds (herbicides) also end up affecting the health and abundance of birds.

Less insects due to insecticide use means there will simply be less food for insect eating birds.

When birds eat insects that have been contaminated with pesticides it can lead to health problems or death for birds.

Birds may come in contact with the pesticide itself, especially when they are broadspread over lawn or other areas of vegetation.

Warblers, like this Pine Warbler, largely feed on insects and other arthropods

Avoid Mosquito Sprays

Mosquito sprays are a non-selective insecticide, which means they kill all insects, including butterflies, bees, ladybugs, fireflies, etc. and because adult mosquitoes repopulate in around one week, these sprays are not all that effective. Instead, focus on eliminating standing water, where the larval stage of mosquitoes live and grow.

Visit this Xerces Society website for more information on mosquito control.

Nectar for Hummingbirds

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeds on nectar from tube shaped flowers as well as insects.

Plant a Hummingbird Feeder!

Eastern Columbine

Aquilegia candensis

Spring Blooming

Scarlet Bee Balm

Monards didyma

Summer Blooming

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinsalis

Fall Blooming

Coral Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Spring/Summer Blooming

Provide Shelter and Nest Sites

Birds need shelter to raise young and find protection from predators and harsh weather.

Ways to Provide Shelter

- Plant in Layers -

- Snags/Tree Cavities -

Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood (2).JPG

Plant in Layers

Because different birds utilize different areas of vegetation, growing plants of varying heights will attract a wider variety of wildlife. From groundcovers and flowering perennials to shrubs and trees, planting layers provides shelter from weather and predators, as well as nesting sites.

Incorporate as many layers as your space allows!

Groundcovers and ferns provide shelter from smaller animals

Shrubs and the lower branches of trees are the preferred nest sites for birds like this Northern Cardinal

Some birds tend to hang out higher in the canopy of taller trees

Snags/Tree Cavities

Snags (dead standing trees) provide an extensive amount of habitat for a large variety of wildlife from insects to birds to mammals. If a tree on your property dies, consider having it cut to a safe height instead of having it taken down. Then enjoy watching the snag change as all sorts of life move in!

Insects can tunnel into the wood of snags. Then woodpeckers and other birds show up to eat the bugs.

Brown-headed Nuthatch checking out a potential nest site in a snag

Bird boxes can provide nesting sites for cavity nesting birds like this Eastern Bluebird

Provide Water

Water in the form of a bird bath or small pond can provide water source for birds, as well as lizards, mammals and even insects. A small pond may create habitat for frogs and toads.

* Be sure to clean bird baths every few days for the health of the birds.*

Also, they are much more likely to use a bird bath with clean water!

Female Northern Cardinal taking a bath

Pickerel Frog in a small backyard pond

Carolina Anole getting a drink

little bluets native plants

Creating Habitat for Birds

Ways to attract and support birds in our gardens ... Create a bird friendly garden by providing habitat (food, shelter & water) throughout the year ... and it all starts with native plants.​

Provide Food

Provide Shelter and Nest Sites

Ways to attract and support birds in our gardens ...

Create a bird friendly garden by providing habitat (food, shelter & water) throughout the year ...
and it all starts with native plants.