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To make a backyard more useful to birds, grow a locally appropriate mix of native plants that provides insects, fruit, seeds, nesting structure, and protective cover across the seasons. Start by assessing your site, then choose plants suited to its light and moisture rather than relying on a generic North American plant list. Even a small bed—or containers on a patio—can contribute food and shelter.
Why native plants help birds
Native plants support birds in more than one way. Many host the insects and caterpillars that adult birds eat, especially when raising young. They can also provide nectar, fruit, seeds, and buds, while their branches and foliage offer places to nest, gather nesting material, and shelter from weather and predators.
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The scale of the benefit varies by region and study. Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that a 2009 study of southeastern Pennsylvania yards found four times as many caterpillars in yards planted mostly with native species as in yards with non-native vegetation. In that study, bird species of regional conservation concern were found eight times more often in yards with mostly native plants. These are study findings, not a prediction for every property.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsOther figures also need their context. Cornell Lab summarizes a 2023 study in Southern California in which yards near 80% native plants showed a winter spike in bird richness and abundance. Cornell Lab specialist Becca Rodomsky-Bish has described around 70% native plants as a level that can deliver most benefits to birds and other wildlife; that is a generalization, not a required threshold. Neither percentage should be treated as a universal target for every region or yard.
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Assess your yard before choosing plants
A plant can be native somewhere in North America and still be unsuitable—or not locally native—where you live. Map the conditions that will shape what can thrive, and note what habitat already exists.
- Mark sunny and shaded areas, wet and dry spots, and places where water drains slowly or quickly.
- Note existing trees, shrubs, lawn, garden beds, and the amount of space available.
- Identify your ecoregion and local microclimate, including exposure to wind, heat, or cold.
- Decide what you want the planting to do: provide year-round cover, attract insects, supply seasonal fruit or seeds, or replace an unused patch of lawn.
Use a regional native-plant database, local extension guidance, or a knowledgeable native-plant nursery to check species and site suitability. The National Audubon Society’s Native Plants database draws on BONAP plant data to show plants for an area and where to get them. Local knowledge matters because plant ranges and growing conditions do not follow a one-size-fits-all list.
Choose a mix of plants with different jobs
Where space allows, combine plant forms and heights: ground cover, grasses and flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Varied vegetation creates more feeding and nesting opportunities than a uniform lawn or a single layer of planting. Cornell Lab recommends connecting low vegetation with shrubs and taller trees so birds can move through sheltered cover.
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Trees for caterpillars and structure
Native trees such as oaks, cherries, and birches can support caterpillars in the regions where they grow naturally. The number of insect species a tree supports varies: Cornell Lab’s 2018 article reports that researchers found about eight caterpillar species on tulip trees compared with over 530 on an oak, without specifying the exact species or region in its summary. Treat this as an illustration of differences among trees, not a universal count for every oak or tulip tree.
Shrubs for cover and fruit
Choose locally native shrubs that offer dense branching, fruit, or both. Fruit can be a seasonal food source, while thick shrubs provide sheltered places to rest and nest. The right shrub depends on your region and site conditions; verify its local range before planting.
Grasses and flowering plants for nesting, seeds, and insects
Grasses can supply nesting structure and seeds, while flowering plants attract insects and, in some cases, hummingbirds. For the North-Central United States and South-Central Canada, Cornell Lab names switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) as potential nesting habitat for ground-nesting birds. These are regional examples, not a planting list for all of North America.
In that same regional context, common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) can support insects and later provide seedheads. Check whether any example is native and suited to your own locality before using it.
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Plan for a succession of resources rather than a single flush of flowers or fruit. Insects and caterpillars can be especially important during breeding, while fruit, nectar, seeds, and sheltered vegetation contribute at other times of year.
- Spring: Caterpillars on native tree leaves can feed nesting birds. Serviceberries can provide fruit for birds that eat it.
- Summer: Flowering plants such as wild bergamot can offer nectar, while flowers also support insects.
- Fall: Sunflower and goldenrod seedheads can provide food as the season changes.
- Winter: Seedheads left standing may remain useful, and locally suitable fruiting shrubs such as hawthorn or winterberry can offer fruit. Dense evergreen or woody cover can add shelter.
These plants are examples described by Cornell Lab, not universal recommendations; check their range and growing requirements for your location. Avoid cutting back every seedhead or clearing all stems at the end of the growing season if they are providing food or shelter.
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Start at a scale you can manage
You do not need to convert an entire property. Begin with an unused lawn patch, a small bed, or a section around an existing tree or shrub. If you have no yard, native plants in containers can still provide a small amount of food and shelter on a patio or balcony. Choose container plants for your region and make sure the pots and placement suit their light and moisture needs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plant and maintain with local conditions in mind
Fall can be a good time to plant native perennials in some places because soil remains warm and seasonal moisture can help plants establish. The best planting season depends on local climate and the species, so follow regional nursery or extension guidance. Water new plants as needed while they establish, and keep an eye out for invasive weeds: native landscaping is not maintenance-free.
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As the planting grows, retain a mix of heights and structures rather than shaping everything into a uniformly short bed. Adjust the mix when you see which areas stay wet, dry out, or receive less sun than expected.
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How to choose between candidate plants
Compare plants against the conditions and habitat roles that matter on your site. A short list can help you avoid choosing a species solely because it is described as bird-friendly.
- Local native status: Is it native to your locality, not merely to a broad state or country?
- Site fit: Does it suit the available sun, shade, moisture, drainage, and microclimate?
- Habitat role: Does it provide insect food, nectar, fruit, seeds, nesting structure, or shelter?
- Season: When is that food or cover available?
- Form and height: Does it add a useful layer or connect existing cover?
For species-level decisions, consult local botanical or extension guidance, or ask a native-plant nursery familiar with your area.
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