Birds Canada is proud to partner with West Coast Seeds, who are donating proceeds from the sale of these seeds in Canada. Provide habitat for birds and raise funds for conservation.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird on a Cardinal Flower. Photo: Grant Davis
By Olivia Carvalho, Community Engagement Specialist
There’s a moment every spring when you hear it before you see it—the dawn chorus that lets you know birds are moving again after a long winter. With a little planning, your garden can be ready to host a variety of birds and pollinators this spring.
Whether you have a sprawling backyard, a single flower bed, or a few containers on a balcony, the plants you choose this season can make a real difference for birds. Across Canada, bird populations have faced serious pressure from habitat loss and the decline of the insects they depend on. Native plants are one of the most powerful tools we have to support habitat loss and increase biodiversity in our own backyards (literally!).
Find Your Bird Garden Zone
Before you plant, visit the Birds Canada Gardening for Birds native plant database to identify your Bird Garden Zone. With more than 500 native plant species searchable by region, site conditions, and benefits for birds, this is the best place to begin building your backyard ecosystem. If you’re brand new to Gardening for Birds, take our free course to get started, or read on to learn more about some bird-friendly natives that may be a great addition to your space this growing season.
Below are some of our favourite flowering plants that offer a tasty treat for visiting birds. If you have the space for it, we also recommend planting an array of trees and shrubs, as they can provide nesting habitat and shelter for so many species.
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Photo: Grant Davis
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Photo: Sean Blaney
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Photo: Kevin Kavanagh
Few plants do as much for birds as Milkweed. Its showy globe-shaped blooms are a magnet for activity all summer long, and the benefits for birds extend well beyond the blooming season. Hummingbirds visit the flowers for nectar, while finches like Pine Siskins and Redpolls return later in the season to feed on the small seeds, so make sure to leave seedheads standing. The blooms also attract protein-rich insects that bug-loving birds rely on to fuel migration and feed their nestlings. American Goldfinches and Black-capped Chickadees have been known to gather the soft, fibrous stem husks to line their nests. There are several species of Milkweed, so be sure to check the Bird Gardens Database to find the right variety for your region.
Bird Garden Zones: varies by species
Container Suitable: Yes
Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis)
Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Photo: Colin Chapman
Western Yarrow is a native wildflower that supports birds and wildlife from spring right through to winter. Its clusters of small white flowers bloom throughout the warm months, drawing in the insects and pollinators that warblers and swallows depend on. As the growing season winds down, the seedheads become a valuable food source. Resist the urge to chop down seedheads and you may find chickadees, finches, and sparrows foraging among them on cold days. Hardy enough to grow in any Bird Garden Zone across Canada, Western Yarrow is a low-maintenance choice that brings year-round activity.
Bird Garden Zones: ALL ZONES
Container Suitable: Yes
Autumn Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). Photo: Sean Blaney
Don’t let the name fool you – this wonderful plant is not a weed, nor is it likely to be the source of your seasonal allergies! Just as many garden colours begin to fade, Sneezeweed begins to bloom with bright yellow flowers that signal to birds and pollinators that there’s still something worth stopping for. During fall migration, nectar-loving species like the Cape May Warbler and Baltimore Oriole may come looking for Sneezeweed nectar as a much-needed energy source along their journey south. Even after the flowers die back, the small seeds left behind offer a continued food source for American Goldfinches and Black-capped Chickadees.
Bird Garden Zones: 1-18
Container Suitable: Yes
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Photo: Natasha Barlow
Wild Columbine is one of spring’s most welcome arrivals because of its distinctive red and yellow flowers that bloom early, greeting Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. The long tubular flowers have a nectar that hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators love, helping draw in insect-eating birds throughout the spring and summer. When the flowers are spent and seed pods remain, Dark-eyed Juncos, House Sparrows, and other winter residents come to feed on the small seeds left behind.
Bird Garden Zones: 10-14, 16-20
Container Suitable: Yes
Create Habitat at Home
Your garden of any size is part of a bigger picture. Every native plant you add creates habitat by supporting insects and providing resources that birds need to survive migration, nesting season, and make it through harsh winters. Together, small patches of habitat add up to something meaningful for bird populations across the country and beyond.
When you plant any of the species featured in this blog, you double your impact! Birds Canada is proud to partner with West Coast Seeds, who are donating proceeds from the sale of these seeds in Canada. Provide habitat for birds and raise funds for conservation.