Did you know you can supply a huge array of natural food? Every plant helps, but make sure you plant lots to create a thriving habitat!
To attract a variety of birds, you’ll need a variety of food. Some birds that feed on invertebrates and their larvae in the spring and summer, such as House Sparrows and Blue Tits, are comfortable switching to seeds in winter. Others, such as Dunnocks and Wrens, still need invertebrate food.
It’s vital to supply a wealth of options as well as places where invertebrate life can thrive. Planting a range of different species creates different structures, and supplies wildlife with pollen, seeds or fruits throughout the year.
Find out here what flowers and plants can feed your garden birds.
On the RSPB shop you can browse our range of wildlife attractor seeds. A selection of native wildflower seeds for bees, butterflies, bats or birds.
Fun to grow and enjoy in the summer, Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a great source of food for finches and sparrows during the colder months. Their seeds are rich in much-needed oil and protein to give birds warmth and energy.
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) is an impressive biennial plant. Goldfinches are fond of the spiky seed heads, inserting their beaks inside to extract the seeds. In summer they will also seek other small seeds such as those of dandelions, thistles and Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris).
Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) is a purple-flowered perennial whose seeds are also eaten by Goldfinches. It’s also great for pollinators in summer.
Greenfinches will eat the seeds found in rosehips. The cone-heads of Echinacea and Rudbeckia that flowered in summer and autumn are also packed with seeds. House Sparrows, as well as finches, will dine on these. There are numerous annual flowers whose seeds may still be present in later winter too, such as Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum). These will also feed small birds.
Ivy (Hedera helix) is one of the best plants you can grow for wildlife. First, the flowers appear late in the year, giving pollinators such as butterflies and hoverflies a final boost. Then, the deep purpley-black berries are much loved by Woodpigeons, thrushes, Robins, Starlings and Blackcaps. These berries are richer in fat than most other berries. They also ripen later and over a longer period of time, ensuring a steady supply of vital nutrition.
Invertebrates, including spiders, hide among the leaves and stems, providing rich pickings for Robins and Wrens. Finally, this incredible climber is crucial for cover.
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) has the most gorgeous glossy berries, which hang in tempting clusters during the autumn and winter. Thrushes, including Blackbirds, Fieldfares and Redwings, will readily eat the berries. If you’re very lucky, you may even see Privet Hawk-moth caterpillars munching away among the leaves during the warmer months.
Finally, Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) is another attractive larger plant whose fruit can attract hungry members of the thrush family.
There are a few simple steps you can take now to provide food and shelter for birds.
First, don’t feel you have to deadhead and clear everything away in autumn. Even if plants don’t have an obvious larder of seeds, they may still be full of insects and other invertebrates seeking refuge for winter. Where you can, leave leaves where they lie on the ground. Flicking through leaf litter is a natural foraging technique for many of these birds as they search for insects, woodlice, spiders and other various types of invertebrates.
Log and stick piles are also good feeding spots for those birds that prefer live food. Form stacks of sticks or logs in sheltered corners or, if you have enough space, you could form a ‘dead hedge’ with the offcuts and prunings of larger woody plants.
It might sound like an oxymoron, but a dead hedge is a wonderful habitat that’s full of life. Dead hedges provide hiding places and nesting habitats for all sorts of creatures, as well as food for insects.
Planting a range of different species that grow, flower and fruit at different times gives a varied structure. It can supply wildlife with pollen, nectar, seeds and fruits throughout the year.
This guidance has been created by RSPB wildlife experts, to provide a suggested list of plants, shrubs and trees that together provide year-round natural food for garden birds. However, it’s not an exhaustive list. You may find plants not listed here that the birds love - we would love to know about them!
For more information on planting trees and shrubs please see here. You can find more information on planting climbers here.
As well as planting natural food plants for birds, there are also many beneficial weeds that may naturally pop up in your garden or green space that birds will eat too. So feel free to just do nothing, and let them grow – your birds will benefit!
⚠ Please note: This list contains some potentially harmful plants (either to humans or pets). Check plant labels and seed packets and check out The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Guide to Potentially Harmful Plants for guidance. ⚠
