Plan Ahead: Plant Trees and Shrubs for Year-Round Bird Habitat

Create a wildlife oasis with shrubs and trees providing food and essential winter shelter. Plant diverse seed-, nut-, and berry-bearing species for year-round enjoyment — yours and the birds'.

Top Bird-Friendly Shrubs

Barberry (Berberis thunbergii): Thorny, deciduous, bright red fall/winter berries. Bronze/golden foliage varieties available.

Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens): Deciduous vine to 20+ ft. Orange fruits split in fall revealing scarlet seeds.

Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia): Deciduous shrub. White spring flowers, burgundy fall fruits.

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.): Deciduous and broadleaf evergreens. Most bear orange/red fall fruits.

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.): Large spreading deciduous shrub. Showy flat-topped white flower clusters → blue/red/purple berries.

Holly (Ilex spp.): Evergreen/deciduous, trees/shrubs. Females bear red/yellow/black berries with male pollinator nearby.

Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.): Thorny broadleaf evergreens. Abundant red-orange fall/winter fruits. Fragrant spring flowers.

Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa): Deciduous, prickly, super-hardy. Flowers → seedy red rose hips.

Sumac (Rhus spp.): Deciduous/evergreen shrubs suckering into colonies. Showy fall fruit clusters.

Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum): Large deciduous shrub. White spring flowers, abundant red fall fruits.

Boston Ivy/Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus spp.): Vigorous deciduous vine to 50+ ft. Bluish-black fall berries.

Best Bird-Friendly Trees

• Crabapple (Malus spp.): Many varieties. For birds, choose small-fruited types.
• Cherry (Prunus spp.): Showy spring flowers, small often inconspicuous fruits.
• Dogwood (Cornus spp.): Spring-blooming tree/shrub. Ornamental fruits, especially eastern/Kousa dogwoods.
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis): Tough shade tree. Fleshy fall seeds.
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.): Picturesque multi-trunked, thorny. Profuse red fruits after white flowers.
• Locust (Robinia spp.): Large shade trees. Beanlike seedpods persist into winter.
• Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.): Red/orange berries ripen late summer/fall. Avoid hot summer areas.
• Pear (Pyrus communis): Culinary + ornamental (Bradford). Spring bloom, summer fruit.
• Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia): Summer fruits like miniature olives. Intolerant of humid summers/mild winters.
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): Birds strip early-summer fruits fast. White spring flowers.