It's time to consider what you are enjoying in your landscape and how you can share the bounty of what you have. I would like you to share your landscape by planting woody trees and shrubs with birds in mind. This will have the added benefit of attracting other pollinators as well and it can be quite entertaining.
Keep in mind that dead trees are an important food source and offer shelter & nesting sites in their cavities. These dead trees are called 'snags', den trees or cavity trees. Here in Ontario over 50 species of birds and mammals rely on these trees for shelter or the bugs that are on them.
Oh, and side note, I use Latin names (in italics) to make sure you get the correct species and will follow that with the common name. Make sure when purchasing you have your Latin name with you as common names do not necessarily denote the correct plant. Remember these tips: it also good to plant in groups; conifers offer shelter which you should desire; if you have a room for hedgerow you will support more species of insects and birds which is even better. Dead trees and branches attract woodpeckers etc., variety is really a desirable feature to attract birds. Birds with a * indicates an important food source for them. Also, I will indicate conditions for planting, sun, part sun, shade.
Shrubs & Trees for Birds:
Acers, Maple - good nesting trees, sugar maple is my favourite and Acer Rubrum. Sugar maple, seeds, buds, flowers for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak. Sun
Alnus incana Alder - shrub or small tree, seeds attract Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch. Sun, likes damp soil but not necessary.
Amelanchier Rosaceae 'Serviceberry' - Serviceberries come in shrub and tree form, does not matter what you plant, the robins and other birds will love you for placing this beautiful spring blooming woody plant. Fruits appear in early summer and I have seen as many as 50 robins on one tree comping down the berries. Other birds who utilize this tree or shrub are: American Crow, Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole! To top it off, the bark of this tree is a wonderful lavender grey in the winter months. Sun, important hedgerow plant, most soils.
Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch - These trees live for 40 years or so and are outer forest trees, they move out as the forest grows, plant in groups. The seeds attract, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Chickadees, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow*, Common Redpoll*, Pine Siskin*
Celtis occidentalis, Hackberry - berries provide food for many birds. Sun to part sun.
Cornus Alternifolia, Pagoda Dogwood; Cornus stolonifera, Red Osier Dogwood - Dogwoods provide shelter and nesting sites for birds and form and colour to your landscape, they are one of my favourites. It has been recorded that over 90 species of birds utilize these plants as a food source. I and a client once watch Robins get drunk on over ripe berries of a Pagoda Dogwood we had in her backyard. It was a hoot, the bird had trouble staying on the branches and then finally slept it off on the ground. Both of these dogwoods like moist soil, Pagoda Dogwood is an under-story tree ( 15 - 20' grows under larger trees in woods) and likes dappled shade to shade. Red Osier Dogwood likes sun.
Corylus cornuta, Hazelnut - makes a good nest shrub.
Crataegus spp. Hawthorns - I love hawthorns and they are great planted in hedgerows, provide important roosting and nesting sites for birds because of their protective thorns. In winter they are frequented by Cedar Waxwings & Pine Grosbeaks. In summer they are used by Robins and Fox Sparrows. Sun.
Fagus grandifolia, Beech - Another tree I love, it's bark is to die for and the birds love the nuts! Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue Jay*, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Grackle, Purple Finch (they love the buds). Sun to part shade.
Quercus macrocarpa, Burr Oak - Acorns! A lot of birds use oak trees, but it is the acorns for these that make this tree desirable. Blue Jay, White Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Common Grackle. Sun to part sun.
Parthenoncissus quinquefolia, Virginia Creeper - The berries of this vine are eaten by Blue Jays, Robins, Cedar Waxwings and many other birds.
Pinus banksiana, Jack Pine; Pinus Strobus, White Pine - The White Pine is one of my favourite trees, what would Northumberland be without it's towering White Pines? These trees offer a valuable food source with their seeds to many birds. Mourning Dove* (nests there), Northern Flicker, Chickadee*, Red Breasted Nuthatch*, Brown Creeper*, Brown Thrasher, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, White-winged Crossbill*, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak*. Sun to part sun, will grow to sun.
Prunus virginiana, Chokecherry; Prunus pennsylvanica, Pin Cherry or Bird Cherry; Prunus serotina, Black Cherry - food source for Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin*, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher*, Cedar Waxwing*, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak*, Baltimore Oriole, Evening Grosbeak*. Sun good for hedgerows.
Sambucus canadensis, Canadian Elder - good nest tree and offers berries to birds. Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird. Sun, moist soil is best but not necessary. If soil is sandy add a lot of compost.
Sambucus pubens, Red-berried Elder - Fruit to Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird.
Thuja occidentalis, White Cedar - Bud and seeds are consumed by these birds and it also offers important shelter for many birds who forage for food and building nests. Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin. Sun to part shade
Ulmus americana, American Elm - University of Guelph is working on inoculating this species with a Dutch Elm disease to make it resistant to it. So there is hope for the beautiful Elm. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped warbler, Purple Finch*, American Goldfinch. Sun
Viburnum trilobum, High bush Cranberry & Viburnum lentago Nannyberry - These are important to the birds in late fall and winter when other food sources are disappearing. Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak. Sun
Viburnum rafinesquianum, Downy Arrowwood - Fruit and nesting site. Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Cardinal, Evening Grosbeak. Sun to part shade
