Five favorite deciduous woody plants for birds— what they provide, and the birds they're likely to attract:
Mulberries (Morus species)
Deciduous landscape plant.
Season: summer fruiting.
Description: medium-sized, 30' — 60' high. Fallen fruit is messy: avoid planting near sidewalks or car parking areas.
Food type: fruit.
Attracts various birds: robins, waxwings, cardinals, numerous other songbirds.
Provides nesting sites for many birds
Serviceberries (Amelanchier species)
Deciduous landscape.
Season: summer fruiting.
Description: medium-sized, 25' — 60' high. Produces masses of white or pinkish flowers in spring. Reddish berries in summer.
Food type: fruit.
Attracts various birds: robins, waxwings, cardinals, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, others.
Provides nesting sites for many birds.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Deciduous landscape plant.
Season: fall fruiting.
Description: excellent choice for birds and people. Well-known ornamental, to 40' high. Attractive white, pink, or red flowers in spring Scarlet berries in fall.
Food type: fruit.
Attracts various birds: robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, tanagers, grosbeaks, many others.
Provides nesting sites for many birds.
Crabapples
(Malus species)
Deciduous landscape plant.
Season: fall fruiting; winter-persistent fruits, with many varieties providing winter-long bird food.
Description: medium-sized, attractive spring blossoms. Choose a variety with small fruits (easier for birds to swallow).
Food type: flower buds, flowers, fruit, seeds.
Attracts various birds: robins, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, waxwings, pine grosbeaks, finches, many others.
Provides nesting sites for many birds and additional birding cover.
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Deciduous landscape plant.
Season: fall fruiting; winter-persistent fruits that will provide bird food throughout the winter
Description: large. Produces acorns every year, unlike other oaks.
Food type: acorns
Attracts various birds: woodpeckers, jays, grouse, wood ducks, and other birds.
Also provides nesting sites and additional bird cover.
Depending on your geographic location and the plants in your landscape you can expect robins, waxwings, cardinals, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, pine grosbeaks, finches, woodpeckers, jays, grouse, and wood ducks.
You will also probably see wrens, chickadees, and sparrows.
