Our guide to trees and shrubs which attract birds

There are many ways we can attract birds to our gardens, including of course with suitable foods in the right type of feeders, but natural foods such as berries which form on certain trees and shrubs can be even better for some bird species. In addition, such trees and shrubs also enhance our gardens for our own enjoyment and sense of wellbeing. But with most garden centres having an often bewildering selection to choose from, we’ve put together this simple guide on where to start and also explain what the wider value of such trees and shrubs are for birds and other wildlife.

In order for berries to form in the late summer and into autumn for birds to eat, the tree or shrub will have firstly be adorned with blossom in the early spring. This is an important point about the wider value of trees and shrubs in gardens which have berries, because the blossom provides food in the form of nectar for bees and other pollinators at a time of year when most species of perennial plant have yet to flower.

Along with food for birds in the autumn and nectar for insects in the spring, some species and varieties of berry-bearing tree and shrub also provide great nesting sites for bird species like Blackbird and Robin. These tend to be where there’s relatively dense foliage and branches and stems with spikes, with a native tree example being Hawthorn and an ornamental shrub variety being Pyracantha.

Which brings us onto whether it’s better to plant native or non-native, with there being no simple answer because there are a range of factors to take into account, including the style of the garden and what you want to achieve. For example, if the aim is very much to have a wildlife garden which isn’t going to be kept too neat and tidy, then native species will typically be better, whereas for a more formal garden non-native ornamental varieties may well fit in more appropriately.

The lines can get a bit blurred here, but generally speaking a tree has a single trunk or, in a few cases, multiple but still sturdy trunks, whereas a shrub has multiple and thinner stems. A hedge can be formed from some species of tree – notably Hawthorn – plus most varieties of shrub. This understanding very much helps with selection, and as an outline of examples which also takes into account native, non-native and size:

• Rowan – small to medium sized deciduous native tree (though there are a few cultivated varieties which have different colour berries) and best grown as a single tree. Rowan is often a good choice of tree for a small garden.
• Hawthorn – small to medium sized native tree but also makes a great hedge which can be planted close together. As the name suggested, thorns are very much a feature of this tree.
• Holly – medium sized but slow growing, has the benefit of being evergreen and can be grown as a single tree or a hedge.
• Elder – a native tree which is relatively small, though with a rather ungainly shape it’s perhaps better suited to a more natural wildlife garden.
• Cotoneaster – non-native shrub which is available in multiple varieties, with some growing low for ground cover and others vertically which can also form a hedge. Berry colours vary from yellow to bright red depending on variety.
• Pyracantha – non-native shrub which is also available in various varieties, though most have very spiky thorns – a feature that makes them attractive to nesting birds given the added protection.
• Two other native trees to consider which aren’t too big and also both have red berries, are Whitebeam and Guelder-rose.

For all the species and varieties listed above, it is mainly different species of thrush which will feast on the berries come late summer and autumn. Our resident Blackbirds will be the first, but come October they’re joined by more of the same species which migrate here from northern mainland Europe. Other species of thrush to migrate here are Redwing and Fieldfare, which will also seek out berries – and especially those on Rowan trees. Some species of finch will also eat berries, but it’s more the seeds inside that they’re after. An interesting bird which eats smaller berries and notably Elder, is the Blackcap – a species of warbler which is increasingly seen in gardens during the autumn and winter months. Perhaps the most special bird of all to be attracted into gardens to eat berries, is the magical Waxwing.

Late winter is ideal as long as the ground isn’t frozen, as the roots on the tree or shrub will be dormant and therefore not negatively affected by disturbance when planting. If you’re buying multiple trees and perhaps like Hawthorn for a hedge, then these are generally supplied with bare roots rather than in pots. This means that they need to be planted by the end of March at the latest, as beyond this the roots will become active and the tree might not survive the planting process. Trees and shrubs in pots can technically be planted at any time of the year as the root ball will normally remain intact when it’s removed from the pot, but the winter months are still better and not least as it reduces the need for watering.