Suburban birds need native plants to thrive, as they host the native insects that are essential food for nesting songbirds.1 When you plant bird-friendly native trees and shrubs, you can create a haven that sustains robins and other birds throughout the year.
Here are 10 top picks to keep robins and other birds coming back to your yard.
1. Serviceberries (Amelanchier species)
These medium-sized trees, reaching 25 to 60 feet high, produce masses of white or pink flowers in spring, followed by reddish berries in summer. Robins, waxwings, cardinals, vireos, tanagers, and grosbeaks all flock to feast on the fruit.
2. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
An excellent choice for both birds and people, this well-known ornamental tree grows up to 40 feet high. In spring, it bursts into bloom with showy white or pink flowers that robins can’t resist. These flowers then give way to scarlet berries in fall that robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, tanagers, and grosbeaks devour.
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3. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis)
Elderberries are wonderful for birds, flowering in late spring and becoming covered with large clusters of berries in summer. Some varieties offer cut leaf foliage in greens and golds, like Lemony Lace® and Laced Up®.
4. Viburnum (Viburnum species)
The stalwart of any good shrub border, viburnums provide everything from canopy that shelters the nests of smaller songbirds to a plethora of colored berries that birds feast upon. The fruit ranges in color from yellow, pink, and red to blue, with many aging to black.
5. Crabapples (Malus species)
These medium-sized trees boast attractive spring blossoms and hold onto their small fruits through fall and winter. Robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, waxwings, pine grosbeaks, finches, and many others devour the flower buds, flowers, fruit, and seeds.
6. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
This deciduous holly produces bright red berries that persist through winter, providing a valuable food source for robins and other birds during the colder months. Growing 6-12 feet tall and wide, winterberry prefers moist, acidic soils and full sun to part shade.
7. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
An attractive cone-shaped tree usually growing 50 to 90 feet tall, the eastern red cedar produces fleshy, pale blue, berry-like cones on female trees that waxwings and other birds relish. It also provides excellent nesting sites and cover.
8. Mulberries (Morus species)
These medium-sized trees, reaching 30 to 60 feet high, have summer-ripening fruit that attracts robins, waxwings, cardinals, and numerous other songbirds. Just avoid planting them near sidewalks or parking areas, as the fallen fruit can be messy.
9. American Cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum)
American cranberrybush is a deciduous shrub that produces clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by tart red berries that robins adore. The berries often persist into winter, making this shrub a reliable food source for robins during the colder months.
10. Spruces (Picea species)
Often growing up to 150 feet tall, spruces produce seed-bearing cones that attract crossbills and other seed-eaters in fall and winter. Their evergreen needles also provide insects for migrating warblers to glean in spring. Spruces offer excellent nesting sites and cover as well.
Source:
1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.