How to Grow a Bird Garden in Any Size
You don't need much space to attract beautiful birds. Give them fresh water and shelter, grow fruit, seed or nectar-bearing plants and then watch your feathered friends arrive. Large shrubs and trees or masses of plants are easier for them to see, but containers or a space of any size can work. "(Providing) food from native plants ... is the best way to attract birds to your property," says Jen McGuinness, author of Bird-Friendly Gardening: Guidance and Projects for Supporting Birds in Your Landscape (Cool Springs Press).
Hummingbirds are drawn to colorful, tubular flowers like this Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis, hardy in USDA Garden Zones 2 to 8). Other natives for hummers: Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa, hardy in Zones 3 to 9), Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis, hardy in Zones 3 to 8) and Fire Pink (Silene virginica, hardy in Zones 4 to 8). Before you plant, visit the National Wildlife Federation to find native plants for your area. For your native birds, visit the Audubon Guide to North American Birds or use the Merlin app.
Some birds are migratory while others inhabit one region year-round. Depending on where you live and the season, the kind of birds you see will vary.
Below, get more tips on which native plants to include in your bird garden and how to bring more birds to your space — from shady spots to window boxes.