A list of plants that naturally attract California Birds to your garden.

Bird Gardening does not have to be that different than normal landscaping, it just requires more thought. Try to stay with natives from your plant community or nearby communities, put the wetland plants next to the bird bath, and the dryland plants in the sunny parts of the yard, enjoy the birds and the garden!

For Bluebird info see Bluebirds or Western Bluebirds. Or try searching our site for the bird you're looking for.

Western Tanager on Black Chokecherry. Plant native plants with that bear fruit or berries and you get great birds. - grid24_12

California has some beautiful birds such as this, Western Tanager.

This Costa hummingbird matches the desert willow flowers very well. This hummingbird loves the flowers of Southern California native plants.. San Diego is about the middle of it's range. - grid24_12

There are hummingbirds everywhere in a native garden.

California Native plants that can attract bird life into your garden.

Genus/Species	Common Name	Part Used	When	Specific Birds	Area? Cover?
Acacia Greggii	Catclaw	birds eat seeds	summer	Mourning Dove	in desert areas provides cover
Abies concolor	White Fir	birds eat seeds	fall	Red Crossbill, Clark's Nutcracker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Blue Grouse	Mountains, provides cover and roosting and nesting sites
Acer macrophyllum	Big Leaf Maple	birds eat seeds, buds, birds work flowers	spring through fall	Evening Grosbeak, many other kinds of birds	along creeks in drier areas, away from water in more northern sections of California
Acer negundo var. californicum	California Box Elder	same as Big Leaf Maple	same as Big Leaf Maple	same as Big Leaf Maple	grows along streams mostly in valleys
Achillea borealis subsp. cal.	Yarrow	birds eat seeds	summer	Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch	many areas
Adenostoma fasciculatum	Chamise	birds eat seeds	summer	Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch	chaparral areas, provides cover
Alnus rhombifolia	White Alder	birds eat seeds,buds, provides cover and nesting materials	summer	Pine Siskin, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch Warblers, Cedar Waxwings	grows in streams throughout coast ranges and western Sierras
Alnus rubra	Red Alder	same as white alder	same as white alder	same as white alder	grows mostly near streams, only found along coast from central California to Ore.
Amelanchier alnifolia	Western Serviceberry	fruits	summer	Blue Grouse, Catbird, Crow, Evening Grosbeak,, Western Scrub Jay, Yellow-billed Magpies , Mockingbird, American Robin , Townsend's Solitaire, Western Tanager, Sage Thrasher, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush,	Important food during summer, mostly mountain forests
Antirrhinum multiflorum	Many Flowered Snapdragon	birds work flowers, birds eat seeds	spring-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird seed gleaners	large perennial
Aquilegia sp.	Columbine	birds work flowers	spring-summer	Anna's Hummingbird Allen's Hummingbird	species in mountains, desert, coastal areas, in moist, partly shaded areas
Arbutus menziesii	Pacific Madrone	fruit	fall	Band-Tailed Pigeon, varied Thrush, Long-Tailed Chat	in forests, mostly in the northern coast ranges
Arctostaphylos sp.	Manzanita	fruit, birds work flowers	summer-fall	Western Scrub Jay , Black-headed Grosbeak,, Mockingbird, Fox Sparrow, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	provides excellent cover, throughout California except deserts
Artemisia sp.	Sagebrush	birds eat leaves, birds work flowers, birds eat seeds	LEAVES-year round FLOWERS-spring through fall, depending on species SEEDS-fall through winter	Sage grouse, California quail, Mountain quail, Green-tailed towhee	throughout California, provides cover and nesting sites and perching sites
Asclepias sp.	Milkweed	stems	stems-early spring	used to construct Hooded Oriole nests	throughout California except directly on the coast
Aster sp.	Aster	birds eat seeds	seeds-fall	Lesser goldfinch Lawrence's goldfinch, sparrows	throughout California
Atriplex sp.	Saltbush	birds eat leaves, birds eat seeds	leaves-year round seeds-summer through fall	California quail, Lesser goldfinch Lawrence's goldfinch California Towhee, sparrows	shrub species provide cover, throughout California, will grow in alkaline or saline soils
Baccharis sp.	Mule-Fat, Water-Wally, Seep-Willow, Coyote Brush	birds eat seeds	seeds-summer through fall	Lesser goldfinch Lawrence's goldfinch and sparrows	evergreen shrubby species provide cover year round, found throughout California
Beloperone californica	Chuparosa (Spanish for hummingbird)	birds work flowers	flowers-spring to early summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird sip nectar from flowers, sparrows, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch other birds eat flowers	along streams in the low elevation desert in southeastern Calif (Colorado or Sonoran desert)
Ceanothus sp.	California Lilac	birds eat seeds	seeds-summer through fall	mountain quail, California quail,	through most of Calif, provides good cover and nesting sites for many birds
Cephalanthus occidentalis	buttonbush, buttonwillow	birds eat seeds	seeds-summer through fall	ducks love seeds	in wet areas, at lower elevations, Central valley, northern coast ranges, is useful for cover and food
Cercis occidentalis	Western Redbud	birds eat seeds, birds work flowers	seeds-fall flowers-spring	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch	provides cover, food and nesting material, found in foothill areas of coast ranges and Sierras from mid-state northward and desert slopes of so. California mountain ranges
Cercocarpus sp.	Mountain Mahogany	birds eat seeds and birds eat leaves	seeds-summer to fall leaves-year round	blue grouse-seeds and other birds eat leaves	throughout California in mountainous areas, provides good cover
Chilopsis linearis	Desert Willow	birds eat seeds and birds work flowers	seeds-summer to fall, flowers-spring to fall	White-winged dove eat seeds, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird work flowers	along streams in Mojave and Sonoran deserts,
Chrysothamnus sp.	Rabbitbrush	birds eat seeds	birds work flowers summer to fall, birds eat seeds summer to winter	Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch House finch, pine siskin, California quail, (One of two main food sources for quail in areas where plant is common)	provides good cover, and is a major component of low elevation desert margins and high elevation deserts, some species in foothills, mountains, and alpine areas,
Cirsium proteanum(Cirsium occidentale var. venustum)	Red Thistle	birds eat seeds, butterflies and Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird like flowers	birds work flowers summer to fall, birds eat seeds summer to winter	Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch pine siskin,	thorny sucker that is worked hard by birds and butterflies, native to many of the foothill areas
Comarostaphylis diversifolia	Summer-Holly	birds work flowers, fruits	birds work flowers late spring-early summer, berries present summer -fall	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird sip nectar from birds work flowers, berries eaten by mockingbirds, American Robin , Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, cedar waxwing, Phainopepla, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch California Towhee, California Thrasher,, Western Scrub Jay , fox sparrow, Wrentit,other birds	located only at low elevations, coastal areas, San Diego County,
Cornus sp.	Dogwood	birds work flowers, buds and fruits	birds work flowers spring -summer, fruits summer-fall	flowers- western tanagers and warblers fruits-Western Bluebirds, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch Mockingbirds, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, flickers, Black-headed Grosbeak, kingbirds, Hooded Oriole , Yellow-billed Magpies, flycatchers, American Robin , sapsuckers, tree swallows, tanagers, California Thrasher,, vireos, warblers, cedar waxwings, woodpeckers, Band-Tailed Pigeon. Buds eaten by Band-Tailed Pigeon, other birds.	found in moist soils in forests and along streams, used for cover, a very valuable bird plant
Cupressus sp.	Cypress	birds eat seeds		Red-breasted nuthatch, probably others	found in chaparral and mountainous areas, scattered throughout California Probably used by the Red-breasted nuthatch, only in high mountain areas where it grows in association with conifers
Delphinium cardinale	Scarlet Larkspur	birds work flowers	flowers- spring thru summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird love	grows in openings in woods, chaparral, and coastal scrub in the lower half of coastal California
Diplacus sp.	Monkeyflower	birds work flowers	flowers- late spring to midsummer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	grow throughout California, in scrub, chaparral and woodland, in rocky areas, birds work flowers last longer in afternoon shade
Dudleya sp.	Live-Forever	birds work flowers	flowers-spring to summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird visit	throughout California in rocky places, mostly grow in coastal scrub and chaparral, great in a rock wall
Eleocharis sp.	Spikerush	birds eat seeds, culms, tubers	seeds-summer to fall culms, tubers- all year	birds eat seeds, culms, tubers eaten by coots, ducks (mallard, pintail, redhead, ring-necked, lesser scaup, shoveller, cinnamon teal, green-winged teal) , Canada goose, snow goose, whistling swan, seeds eaten by Virginia rail, spotted sandpiper, common snipe	grows at water's edge, is of moderate importance to birds
Encelia californica	Coastal Bush Sunflower	birds eat seeds	seeds-spring thru fall	Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch sparrows eat birds eat seeds	dry, sunny areas in coastal scrub and chaparral, southern California
Epilobium- see Zauschneria
Equisetum sp.	Horsetail	stems and rootstocks	stems and rootstocks all year	eaten by snow goose and whistling swan, likely other waterfowl	found in moist areas at edges of lakes and ponds, moist soil in many different habitats thruout California
Eriogonum sp.	Buckwheat	birds eat leaves, birds eat seeds	leaves-all year seeds- fall	leaves- eaten by blue grouse, California quail. Seeds eaten by House finch , Dark-eyed Junco, California horned lark, Bell sparrow, brown towhee, Spotted Towhee, other birds	good cover in open areas, very common in California in sunny, dry or well-drained places
Eschscholzia species	California Poppies	seeds	summer	California quail, love	annual to perennial
Forestiera neomexicana	Wild Privet, Desert Olive	fruit	fruit-summer	fruit eaten by California quail, American Robin and probably other fruit-eating birds	in dry areas, interior side of coast ranges, to southern California valleys, Mojave desert and desert mountains, not a common shrub
Fragaria sp.	Wild Strawberry	leaves- fruits	eat leaves all year, fruits summer, fall	leaves eaten by blue grouse, California quail, fruits eaten by American Robin , blue grouse, California quail,, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, sparrow, California Thrasher,, California Towhee, cedar waxwing, Western Scrub Jay and other birds	grow in sunny or shady, moist soils, very easy to cultivate, birds love them
Fraxinus sp.	Ash	birds eat seeds	seeds-fall	seeds eaten by Wood ducks, California quail,, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch Black-headed Grosbeak, cedar waxwings, sap is extracted and eaten by sapsuckers	grows mostly on moist soils such as near streams, rivers, moist areas
Galvezia speciosa	Island Snapdragon	birds work flowers	flowers-spring	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbirdsip nectar from flowers	Beautiful garden subshrub, not frost tolerant, grows in rocky areas, does best in afternoon shade in interior areas
Geranium sp.	Wild Geranium	birds eat seeds	seeds-summer	birds eat seeds eaten by Mourning Dove, California quail, California Towhee	Small perennials that grow in forest meadows, and edges, not dry areas
Helianthus sp.	Sunflower	birds eat seeds	seeds-fall	birds eat seeds eaten by Bush Tits, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch other seed gleaning birds	deciduous perennial
Heteromeles arbutifolia	Toyon	Berries	winter	Band-Tailed Pigeon, berry lovers like Western Bluebirds and American Robin	large evergreen shrub, throughout California Except deserts
Heuchera maxima	Island Alum Root	birds work flowers	spr	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	sub-shrub, perennial, north slope
Juglans calif. And Juglans hindsii	California Black walnut	nuts	winter	Western Scrub Jay	J. calif. Small dec. tree, J. Hindsii, large dec. tree seasonally wet coastal California Indian sites
Keckiella species	Bush Penstemons	birds work flowers	early spring-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	small bushes, usually summer dec., chaparral
Lavatera assurgentiflora	Malva Rosa	birds work flowers, birds eat seeds	summer fall	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, seed gleaners	large bush, aggressive seeder in coast areas, native on islands
Lepechinia calycina	Pitcher Sage	birds work flowers	summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	summer dec. bush, seasonally wet, most of state except deserts
Lonicera species(all)	Honeysuckles	birds work flowers and berries	spring, summer, fall	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, California Towhee, California Thrasher,, American Robin , Western Bluebirds	rambling vine, seasonally wet, creek side everywhere
Lupinus species	Silver Lupine	birds eat seeds	summer	California quail, LOVE, other birds like	bush, everywhere
Mahonia	Nevin's Mahonia	berries	summer	Western BluebirdsLOVE, American Robin , California Thrasher, California Towhee	large evergreen bush southern Calif mountains
Mahonia aquifolium, M. repens, others Mahonia, Berberis except M. nevinii	Oregon Grape	berries	summer	California Thrasher,, American Robin , California Towhee, berry lovers	creeping bush, chaparral and forest
Malacothamnus species	Bush Mallows	birds eat seeds, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird pick insects out of flowers	Summer through fall	seed gleaners like bush tits, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, pick tiny insects out of flowers	bushes, semidec. In fall, chaparral
Mimulus species	Monkey Birds work flowers	flower	summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	small to large perennial, wet places throughout
Monardella species	Coyote Mint	flower	summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	small perennial, brushy and forest areas
Penstemons		flower	spring-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	perennials, throughout
Pinus species	Pines	birds eat seeds, pick insects out of bark	always	Western Scrub Jay and Steller's Jays, White-breasted nuthatch, Red-breasted nuthatch,, many others	trees, all but deserts
Platanus racemosa	Sycamore	fuzz, and birds eat seeds	spring, winter	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird use fuzz for nest, seed gleaners eat	Trees, wet places throughout
Prunus species	Cherries	berry	summer	many, Western Scrub Jay	large bushes
Quercus species	Oaks	birds eat nuts (acorns), birds eat leaf galls, birds pick insects off leaves and twigs, birds use tree for nesting sites,birds pick insects out of bark birds use bark in which to store acorns	All year	The most!, Western Scrub Jay and Steller's Jays , Band-Tailed Pigeon, California quail, White-breasted nuthatch, Oak Titmouse and others eat acorns. Bushtits eat leaf galls. The Oak Titmouse and bushtits pick insects off leaves and twigs. Woodpeckers and White-breasted nuthatch pick insects out of bar. Woodpeckers store acorns in bark.
Rhamnus species	Coffee Berry	drunk feeding frenzy when berry ripe	summer-fall	Western Scrub Jay , California Thrasher,, other berry eaters	large bushes, (R. crocea much smaller but little berries), seasonally wet places except desert
Rhus species	Sugar bush, Lemonade berry, etc.	Berry	summer-spring	California Thrasher,, California Towhee, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Warblers, Wrentit , etc	medium to large bushes, desert to chaparral
Ribes viburnifolium	Evergreen currant	berry, flower	winter-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, California Towhee, California Thrasher,	medium groundcover for shade, island north slope
Ribes species	Currants	Berry, flower	winter-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, California Thrasher,, Western Scrub Jay and Steller's Jays , etc.	medium deciduous. shrubs, north slopes
Rosa species	Wild Rose	hips	summer-fall	Western Scrub Jay , California Thrasher,, California Towhee, etc.	creeping deciduous. shrubs, seasonally wet places throughout
Salix species	Willows	most	always	many, young catkins eaten, scales, aphids, galls, etc. all very important part of that habitat	large shrubs frequented by birds from the surrounding communities, wet places throughout
Salvia species	Sages	birds work flowers and birds eat seeds	spring-fall	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, seed gleaners	shrubs to perennials, sun to part-shade, desert to chaparral, not conifer forest
Sambucus >Sambucus species	Elderberries	Berries, birds work flowers, stem structure	always	all, a VERY heavily used bird bush, we have a Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird nest in ours most years	large dec. bush, seasonally wet places throughout
Scrophularia species	Bee plant, Figwort	birds work flowers, birds eat seeds	spring-summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, small seed gleaners	perennials, chaparral
Shepherdia argentea	Silver Buffalo Berry	berry	summer	berry eaters	large dec. shrub, wet spots in desert mountains
Sidalcea species	Checkers	birds eat seeds	summer	California Thrasher,, seed gleaners	small perennials, grasslands
Solanum species	Nightshades	berry	summer	berry eaters have not been informed that these are supposed to be poisonous	perennials, S. hoffmanii is big groundcover or bush, all but deserts
Stachys species	Hedgenettle	birds work flowers	summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	creeping perennials, all but deserts
Toxicodendron diversilobum	Poison Oak	Many birds eat fruits	Summer- fall- winter	Too many birds to imagine, VERY IMPORTANT to birds. California quail, Western Bluebirds, Bushtits, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Lesser goldfinch, Lawrence's goldfinch flickers, Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby crowned Kinglet, Yellow-billed Magpies, crows, sparrows, California Thrasher, Black Phoebe, sapsuckers, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Oak Titmouse California Towhee, wrens, woodpeckers, vireos, warblers, waxwings, Wrentit , etc. etc.	Chaparral, woodlands, forests below 4500 ft. elevation
Trichostema lanatum	Woolly-blue curls	birds work flowers	summer	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	shrubs, chaparral
Washingtonia filifera	Fan Palm	dates	summer-fall	Cedar waxwings, other large beaked birds	trees, oasis
Zauschneria species(Epilobium)	California fuchsia	birds work flowers	summer-fall	Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird	creeping perennial, seasonally wet spots through

Anna Hummingbird on a Zauschneria Bert's Bluff. Native plants attract native birds.