Native Trees: Native trees are essential for providing habitat, shelter, and food for birds. Examples include oak trees, maple trees, pine trees, and birch trees, depending on your region.
Fruiting Shrubs: Shrubs that produce berries are highly attractive to birds. Consider planting shrubs like elderberry, viburnum, serviceberry, and beautyberry.
Native Grasses and Wildflowers: Grasses and wildflowers not only add visual interest but also provide seeds and insects for birds. Native grasses like switchgrass and little bluestem, as well as wildflowers like coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and milkweed, are excellent choices.
Sunflowers: Sunflowers produce large, nutritious seeds that many bird species enjoy, including finches and sparrows. They also add a cheerful, sunny presence to your garden.
Berries and Fruit Trees: In addition to shrubs, planting fruit-bearing trees like cherry, apple, and pear can provide a valuable food source for birds.
Nectar Plants: If you're interested in attracting hummingbirds as well, include nectar-producing flowers such as bee balm, trumpet vine, and salvia.