The Best Native Plants for Birds in New England
If you’ve ever sat on the porch with a coffee in hand and watched a warbler flit through the shrubs or a cardinal snack on seeds outside your kitchen window, you know the simple joy of birds in the backyard. One of the most effective, and frankly easiest—ways to support birds year-round is by planting native.
Native plants do two big things: they provide natural food sources (like seeds, berries, and nectar) and support native insects (which are, in turn, food for birds—especially nestlings). Plus, they’re often lower maintenance because they’re built for our soil and climate.
When I started converting my yard to more bird-friendly landscaping, I was surprised at how quickly the birds noticed. Within a season, we had catbirds in the viburnum, chickadees pulling caterpillars from the goldenrod, and hummingbirds zipping around the bee balm. If you’re in New England and looking to make your space more inviting to birds, here are some of the best native plants to consider.
Top Native Plants for Birds in New England
| Plant | Birds Attracted | Plant Type | Bloom/Fruit Time | Ease of Planting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Red Cedar | Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Bluebirds | Evergreen Tree | Fall berries | Easy |
| Serviceberry | Catbirds, Orioles, Thrushes | Small Tree/Shrub | Spring flowers, June fruit | Moderate |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Goldfinches, Sparrows | Perennial Wildflower | Summer to Fall seeds | Very Easy |
| Winterberry Holly | Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, Thrushes | Deciduous Shrub | Bright red winter berries | Easy |
| Bee Balm (Monarda) | Hummingbirds, Orioles | Perennial Flower | Mid–Late Summer | Moderate |
| Highbush Blueberry | Towhees, Jays, Thrashers | Shrub | Mid-Summer fruit | Moderate |
| Little Bluestem | Sparrows, Finches | Native Grass | Late Fall seeds | Very Easy |
| Wild Bergamot | Hummingbirds, Native Bees | Perennial Flower | Summer | Easy |
| Red Osier Dogwood | Thrushes, Woodpeckers, Waxwings | Shrub | Fall/Winter berries | Easy |
A Few Notes from My Backyard
One of the first native plants I put in was Winterberry, and I can’t recommend it enough. The berries are a magnet for bluebirds and thrushes in winter when everything else feels dormant. It’s also just stunning after a snowfall.
Bee Balm is another favorite—not just for the birds, but because it’s basically a pollinator party in July. It spreads fast, so give it some space to stretch.
And if you want to keep things low-maintenance, Little Bluestem is a native grass that looks great year-round and is loaded with seeds in the fall. It’s one of those plants that does its job quietly and beautifully.
Wrapping Up
By adding just a few native plants to your yard, you’re doing more than creating a pretty landscape—you’re building a small ecosystem. The more layers you add (trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses), the more bird species you'll attract. And the best part? You don’t need a huge yard. Even a few containers or a border bed can make a difference.
If you're just getting started, pick a few from the list above, and observe what shows up. The birds will tell you what’s working. And trust me—there’s nothing like seeing that first chickadee disappear into a shrub you planted and knowing you helped make that moment possible.