Plants for Support Birds

grass

Winter resident in Central Valley and coastal marshes; primary food source Dec-Feb

shrub

Primary nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom; critical for breeding season energy demands

tree

Berries ripen Jul-Aug; consumed by 50+ bird species during late summer migration

tree

Critical year-round food source; cache acorns in granary trees

grass

Primary food source during migration and wintering in California wetlands, critical for energy reserves

tree

Acorn caching and consumption Sep-Dec; major seed disperser supporting oak regeneration

perennial herb

Critical late-season nectar source Aug-Nov for pre-migration fuel; supports southbound migration

vine

Critical fall migration fuel source; grapes consumed heavily during September-October staging

tree

Primary acorn dispersal agent; caches acorns Sep-Feb for overwintering food

tree

Cavity nester; utilizes large hollow cavities for breeding Jan-Aug, yearlong shelter

shrub

Rose hips critical winter food source Dec-Feb when other fruits scarce

shrub

Critical winter nectar source Oct-Feb during breeding and territorial establishment

shrub

Highly dependent on ripe berries Jul-Oct for subsistence

tree

Stores acorns year-round in granary trees; creates and maintains woodpecker holes

tree

Requires old-growth coast redwood canopy for nest platforms; April-June breeding season

grass

Dense cover for foraging and nesting March-September; critical refuge from predators

shrub

Critical spring staging resource during northbound migration (Feb-Apr); high-energy nectar source

tree

Stores acorns in granaries; depends on oak mast for year-round food

shrub

Early spring migration fuel source (Feb-Apr) during northbound migration

perennial herb

Primary nectar source during early spring bloom (Mar-May); supports breeding season energy demands

grass

Critical year-round food in saline and alkaline wetlands where this species specializes

tree

Year-round acorn storage and consumption from granary trees

shrub

Acorns consumed by native California birds and mammals; winter food source

tree

Primary food source Sep-Nov during migration; critical staging fuel

perennial herb

Primary nectar source Apr-Oct bloom; critical winter resident energy source in coastal CA

tree

Year-round acorn storage in granary trees; primary food source for resident populations

vine

Primary nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom; critical for breeding season energy

perennial herb

Specialized seed extraction from closed cones; primary food source

grass

Nesting habitat critical Apr-Jul in native grasslands

shrub

High-lipid berries essential for migratory energy; peak consumption Sep-Nov

perennial herb

Primary winter browse; critical component of winter diet in sagebrush-steppe habitats

grass

Staple diet year-round; essential breeding and overwintering resource in grasslands

shrub

Primary nectar source Mar-Aug bloom; critical winter resident energy source

tree

Critical winter food source Nov-Feb, especially during migration and overwinter periods

tree

Acorn storage in granaries Aug-Oct; critical winter food source

tree

Critical fall migration fuel and winter survival resource Sep-Mar in California

shrub

Critical spring migration fuel source, April-May northbound migration

perennial herb

Critical winter staging resource during Pacific Flyway migration Dec-Feb

perennial herb

Primary diet component year-round; critical winter forage when other foods unavailable

perennial herb

Primary nectar source during migration through eastern North America; critical spring and fall fuel stops

shrub

Primary nectar source during breeding season (May-Aug); critical energy source for nesting females

perennial herb

constructs woven nests within Juncus stems, year-round resident in coastal marshes

perennial herb

Critical winter/early spring nectar source in Sonoran Desert; breeding fuel resource

shrub

Specializes on juniper seeds; primary food source across seasons

shrub

Primary habitat component for this endemic species; nesting and cover

shrub

Primary nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom; critical for breeding season energy demands

perennial herb

Dense reed cover essential for concealment and breeding habitat in coastal marshes

shrub

Critical early nectar source for overwintering and breeding males Jan-Mar

perennial herb

uses dense sedge stands in coastal marshes for nesting cover and foraging habitat

perennial herb

Specialist seed extractor; breeding can occur any season depending on cone crop timing

perennial herb

Primary winter food source in desert scrub; migrates to higher elevations following fruit availability

perennial herb

Dense marsh vegetation provides essential nesting and escape cover in coastal salt marshes; critical habitat structure

perennial herb

Seed consumption for overwintering populations; important winter food

shrub

Early season nectar; supports breeding season energy demands

perennial herb

Important migrant staging food, critical late summer-fall

perennial herb

Nests in salt marsh vegetation including Salicornia stands; breeding season April-August

annual

Primary seed consumer; important food source especially in fall and winter when other resources limited

perennial herb

Primary seed consumption during migration and wintering; critical food source in wetland habitats

geophyte

important fall migration fuel source

grass

Critical fall migration staging resource in coastal marshes, Sep-Nov

tree

Sap wells drilled for feeding and nesting; primary habitat association in riparian zones

shrub

Important late-season fruit resource Sep-Nov

annual

Primary seed consumption during fall and winter months when other food sources decline

perennial herb

Early spring arrival; important pre-migration and breeding season nectar source

perennial herb

nests in dense sedge marshes March-July, uses culms for nest construction

grass

Staple seed food resource; important for winter survival and breeding season

tree

Early spring nectar source during blooming Apr-May; breeding season fuel

shrub

Primary nectar source, especially critical during breeding season (Dec-Jun) and molting period

perennial herb

Excavate cavities in bishop pine for nesting; attracted to trees infected with decay fungi

tree

Early spring nectar source during flowering period; critical for breeding season energy

tree

Gregarious feeding on fruits; critical winter nutrition source

geophyte

Early spring blooms provide critical nectar during breeding season initiation Mar-May

grass

Year-round resident utilizing grass seeds as dietary staple; especially important in winter

grass

Primary seed consumption during post-breeding season and winter survival

perennial herb

nesting season diet; uses dense rush stands for cover and nesting substrate in wetland margins

tree

cavity nesting and foraging for invertebrates; alder provides soft wood suitable for cavity excavation

grass

Post-breeding dispersal and migration staging Sep-Oct; seeds critical for energy reserves

tree

Primary winter food source Dec-Mar; disperses seeds throughout oak woodland and chaparral

grass

grass seed consumption throughout year; nests in grass sods

tree

Early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment, May-Jun bloom

shrub

Year-round resident, coffeeberry berries important winter food source

perennial herb

Ground cover shelter during migration and wintering

grass

Dense grass structure provides predation refuge and nesting substrate

perennial herb

Spring breeding season arrival Feb-May; important early nectar source for breeding females

shrub

Primary nectar source Apr-Jun during breeding season

tree

Builds nests in juniper shrubs and small trees during breeding season

grass

important winter diet supplement; forages ground-level seeds November-April

shrub

Forages on seeds and plant material Sep-Feb; year-round resident in California

perennial herb

nesting and cover in marsh habitat where C. nudata occurs

shrub

Late summer-fall staging and migration fuel Sep-Oct

grass

primary winter foraging resource Dec-Feb; supports overwintering populations

perennial herb

Primary food source during wintering period in coastal California marshes

perennial herb

critical food source during post-breeding period and migration Sep-Nov

grass

Seeds comprise significant portion of diet; important during breeding season in grassland habitats

succulent

Primary nectar source during Apr-Jun bloom season; supports breeding activities

shrub

Primary nectar source during breeding season Apr-Jul in California foothills and mountains

shrub

Year-round resident; important food source especially late summer through fall

shrub

Dense foliage provides nesting and roosting sites year-round; critical winter shelter

vine

dense vine growth provides year-round cover and nesting habitat in chaparral

shrub

Primary year-round resident; critical for winter territoriality and early breeding season (Dec-Mar)

annual

Critical fall migration and overwintering food source

perennial herb

Early spring breeding season resource in rocky foothills and gardens

shrub

Primary nectar source during breeding season, late April through August

annual

Spring-summer migration stopover and breeding season nectar source

perennial herb

Utilize dense growth for nesting and shelter in coastal sage scrub habitat

fern

Dense fern patches provide covey cover and nesting habitat

fern

Dense fern cover provides roosting and foraging habitat during cooler months

annual

Utilizes thistle blooms for high-energy nectar source during breeding and non-breeding seasons

annual

Important winter seed resource for overwintering coveys

shrub

Fall migration staging fuel; berries consumed during Aug-Oct southbound passage

shrub

fruit consumption during fall migration and winter staging; important seasonal food source

perennial herb

Dabbling duck feeds on rush shoots and seeds in wetland habitats; important in California marshes

annual

Important fall-winter seed source during migration and overwintering

perennial herb

Fall and winter; dabbling duck foraging on bulrush seeds in shallow wetlands during migration and wintering

tree

Uses cavities in dead cottonwood limbs and snags for nesting in riparian habitat

shrub

Evergreen dense foliage provides year-round cover and nesting habitat

shrub

Primary nectar source Jun-Sep bloom; critical for breeding season energy

grass

Introduced population in coastal California; primary forage grass

shrub

Early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment Mar-May

shrub

Early spring migration fuel source (Apr-May) during northbound passage