Last week, we shared some favorite trees for bird lovers. Today, we’re taking it a step further by highlighting a few native shrubs that birds love just as much! Native shrubs do more than fill space in your landscape, they can provide essential habitat for birds all year long. From nesting cover to summer berries to winter food sources, we’re listing four of our favorites that provide both beauty and biodiversity.
Isanti Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Isanti’)
Bright red stems in winter, white berries in summer—Isanti Redosier Dogwood is a favorite among birds and a standout in native landscapes.
Known for its striking red winter stems, this shrub supports wildlife all year.
- Spring flowers develop into white berries that are an excellent food source for birds!
- Excellent for rain gardens, erosion control, or naturalizing
- Thrives in swampy, clay, and wet soils
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- Fruits loved by birds, butterflies & wildlife
- Tolerates clay, erosion, and wet soils
- Best planted in masses for hedgerows or low areas
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
Saskatoon Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with fragrant white flowers and delicious berries that birds (and people) love.
- Sweet, dark purple berries ripen by early summer and are great for eating and making jelly – if you can beat the robins!
- Tolerates dry, alkaline soils once mature
- Naturally thrives in understory but performs in sun
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
Tough, native, and wildlife-friendly—Nannyberry Viburnum thrives in sun or shade and delivers blue-black berries that feed birds when food is scarce.
Nannyberry Viburnum (Viburnum lentago)
A durable native shrub with spring flowers and blue-black fruit that birds rely on in winter.
- Great for sun or shade, moist or dry soils
- Hardy and adaptable—ideal for natural landscapes
- Provides late-season food when other sources are scarce
- Sun: Full sun to full shade
Planting with Purpose
Native shrubs that birds love are more than just ornamental—they’re essential for building habitat. Mix these bird-friendly species into borders, rain gardens, or naturalized areas to attract birds, support pollinators, and create a vibrant, ecologically rich landscape.
📚 Want to explore more options? Check out this guide from the American Bird Conservancy: Native Trees & Shrubs That Attract Birds
