Reference Charts and Other Educational Materials
SEED EATING BIRDS - FEEDING PREFERENCES:- American Goldfinch--------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Nyjer, Hulled sunflower
- Annas Hummingbird-----------------Nectar
- Band-tailed Pigeon--------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower, Peanut Halves, White Millet
- Bewicks Wren--------------------------Suet
- Black-headed Grosbeak-------------Black Oil Sunflower, Stripe Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower
- Brewers Blackbird---------------------White Millet
- Brown-headed Cowbird-------------White Millet
- Bushtit------------------------------------Suet
- California Quail------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, White Millet, Cracked Corn
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee------Black Oil Sunflower, Nyjer, Nectar, Stripe Sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Peanut halves, Suet
- Dark-eyed Junco----------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled sunflower, White Millet, Nyjer, Cracked corn
- Downy Woodpecker------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Peanut halves, Suet
- European Starling---------------------Peanut Halves, White Millet, Suet
- Evening Grosbeak--------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Stripe Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower
- House Finch-------------------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Nyjer, Nectar, Stripe Sunflower, Hulled sunflower
- Hairy Woodpecker-------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Peanut halves, Suet
- Northern Flicker----------------------Hulled Sunflower, Peanut Halves, Suet
- Pileated Woodpecker---------------Peanut Halves, Suet
- Pine Siskin----------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Nyjer, Hulled sunflower
- Purple Finch--------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Nyjer, Stripe Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower
- Red-breasted Nuthatch-----------Black Oil Sunflower, Stripe Sunflower, Peanut Halves, Suet
- Red Crossbill------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower
- Red-winged Blackbird-------------White Millet, Cracked Corn
- Rufous Hummingbird--------------Nectar
- Sparrow, Chipping------------------Hulled Sunflower, White
- Sparrow, Fox--------------------------Hulled Sunflower, White
- Sparrow, Golden-crowned--------Hulled Sunflower, White Millet
- Sparrow, House----------------------Hulled Sunflower, White Millet
- Sparrow, Song------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower, White Millet
- Sparrow, White Crowned----------Hulled Sunflower, White Millet
- Spotted Towhee----------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Peanut Halves, White Millet
- Stellars Jay----------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Stripe sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Peanut halves, Suet
- Varied Thrush-------------------------Black Oil Sunflower, Hulled Sunflower, White Millet
COMMON PLANTS FOR BIRD GARDENING
FLOWERS FOR BIRDSCAPING - Plant flowers that are visually attractive to you. Birds aren't attracted in the same visual sense that we are. They are attracted to the natural look. Asterisk (*) plants below grow seed heads that can be left to dry to provide food. As birds become accustomed to eating in your yard they will develop a certain dependency on what they find there.
During the winter and spring months natural food becomes scarcer... so provide seed, fruit and suet especially during these times. . . as well as year-round.
Agapanthus, Figwort, Marigold, Aloe, Firepink, Mints, *Aster Fireweed, Milkweed, *Bachelor's Button, *Floss Flower, Nicotiana, *Bee Balm, Foxglove, *Penstemons, Bird of Paradise, *Four O'Clocks, Petunia, Black-eyed Susan, Fushia Phlox, Buttercups, Gilia, *Purple Cornflower, Butterfly Bush, *Goldenrod Red Hot Poker, Butterfly Weed, Hibiscus, Sage, Century Plant, Honeysuckle, Salvia, *Cockscomb, Horsemint, *Snapdragon, Columbines, Indian Paintbrush, *Spider Flower, Coreopsis, Impatiens, *Sunflowers, *Cosmos, Iris, *Tickseed, Crimson Monkey Flower, Lantana, Trumpet Vine, Daylilies, *Larkspur, Yarrow, Eaton's Firecracker, Lily of the Nile, *Zinnia, Fairy Doctor, California, Poppy and Chrysanthemum.
SHRUBS AND VINES FOR BIRDSCAPING - These mid-size plants provide hiding places, resting spots and quick cover from predators. Another major importance is the food they provide throughout the year. These plants mature and provide food at different times and by doing some planning our bird gardening will help birds during every season. Shrubs and vines also are great for adding special interest to our gardens when planting them as backdrops, screens, barriers, hedges and background.
American Cranberry Bush, Creeping Juniper, Manzanita, American Elderberry, Dahoon Holly, Myrtle, Barbados Cherry, Elderberry, Nannyberry, Bayberry, English Ivy, Northern Bayberry, Bearberry, Firethorn, Oregon Grape, Beautyberry, Florida Myrsine, Pagoda Dogwood, Blackberry, Florida,
Tetrazygia, Pyracantha, Black Currant, Florida Trema, Raspberry, Blueberry, Grape Red-osier, Dogwood, Boxwood, Hawthorn, Rose, Brambles, Highbush Blueberry, Salal, Chokeberry, Holly, Silverberry, Common Spicebush, Honeysuckle, Spicewood, Common Juniper, Huckleberry, Staghorn Sumac, Cotoneaster, Japanese Yew Sumac, Creeping Juniper, Jasmine (day/night blooming), Viburnum, Crowberry, Juniper, Virginia Creeper, Cowberry, Laurel Oak, Wax Myrtle, Crabapple, Live Oak, Witchhazel, Cranberry Bush, Marlberry and Yew.
TREES FOR BIRDSCAPING - Trees provide shelter and safety for birds and a dense growth at the perimeter of your property will attract them. Some trees also provide food in the form of seeds, berries and sap . . . see asterisk (*) plants below for examples. Planting more than one variety of tree, mixing small and large sizes, will form a backdrop for your shrubs and flowers. Different tree sizes will accommodate a wider variety of birds as roosting and nesting sites.
American Holly, Cypress, Mulberry, *American Mountain Ash, Dogwoods, Oaks, Apple, Douglas Fir, Olive Ash, *Downy Serviceberry, Palms, Avocado, Eastern Hemlock, Pecan, Austrian Pine, *Eastern Red Cedar, Persimmon, Bald Cypress, Elms, Plum, Bayberry, Eucalyptus, Ponderosa Pine, Beech, Figs, Red Cedar, Birch, *Flowering Crabapple, *Red Mulberry, Black Cherry, *Flowering Dogwood, Red-osier Dogwood, Black Gum, Gray Dogwood, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Black Walnut, Hackberry, Serviceberry, Butternut, *Hawthorn, Silky Dogwood, California Juniper, Hazelnut, Sumac, Cedar (Juniper), Japanese Maple, *Sugar Maple, Cherry, Loquat, White Cedar, Chestnut Magnolia, *White Oak, Colorado Blue Spruce, Maples, Wild Tamarind and Crabapples
FLOWERS FOR HUMMINGBIRDS - There are many flowering plant species available in your local nursery that draw hummingbirds. Hummers are highly attracted to tubular flowers that are red; however, they will visit flowers of any color. When choosing flowering plants for hummingbirds try to choose early, mid and late-blooming varieties. The best choice would be native species.
We have hummingbirds buzzing all around our yard here in BC. . . attracted to many of our flowering plants. However, we've found hanging baskets of fushias near feeders does a great job of drawing these little charmers to the feeders. The feeders are hung near our windows so we get some wonderful up close views.
Azaleas, Firebush, Penstemon (red), Bee Balm, Fire Pink, Phlox, Blazing Star, Foxglove, Powderpuff, Bleeding Heart, Fushias, Quince (flowering), Buckeye (red), Gillias, Red Hot Poker, Cape Honeysuckle, Hollyhocks, Salvia, Cardinal Flower, Honeysuckle, Scarlet Creeper, Century Plant, Impatiens, Scarlet Milkweed, Columbine, Indian Paintbrush, Scarlet Sage, Coral Bells, Lantana, Shrimp Plant, Crabtree (flowering), Lily, Sweet William, Crimson Columbine, Nasturtium, Dame's Rocket and Necklace Pod.