Plants for Support Birds

tree

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

grass

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

tree

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

perennial herb

Specialized seed extraction from closed cones; primary food source

grass

Specialist seed eater; critical grassland resource especially late summer through winter

grass

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

tree

Over 50 species documented; primary resource for songbirds during Jul-Nov period

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

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

shrub

Highly dependent on ripe berries Jul-Oct for subsistence

tree

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

grass

Primary nesting material March-July; constructs woven cup nests within emergent vegetation

shrub

Stopover habitat during fall migration; berries critical for energy reserves

grass

migration staging in California wetlands; seeds and vegetative matter important during spring and fall passage

grass

Important wintering waterfowl in California wetlands, critical fall migration fuel Sep-Nov

perennial herb

Primary nectar source during breeding season in California mountains

perennial herb

Primary fruit consumer; berries consumed throughout year in California, especially important winter food source

shrub

Primary fruit consumer Jul-Sep during breeding and pre-migration

tree

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

perennial herb

Critical food source during fall migration and winter in Pacific Northwest; dogwood drupes consumed Aug-Nov

shrub

Critical migration stopover fuel late August-September

grass

Nesting habitat critical Apr-Jul in native grasslands

shrub

Critical fall migration fuel source; berries consumed Aug-Oct during southward migration

shrub

Important late-season fruit source for migrating populations; also consumed by wintering birds

perennial herb

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

grass

Primary food source during fall migration and winter residency in California coastal wetlands

grass

nests in native grass-sedge complexes April-July; requires open structure

grass

critical winter seed resource for migrating and overwintering populations in California

tree

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

perennial herb

Forages in dense Salicornia mats for invertebrates; plant provides nesting cover and shelter

tree

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

shrub

Fall migration fuel source Sep-Oct during southbound migration

grass

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

perennial herb

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

tree

Fruits consumed during breeding season and fall migration; peak availability Aug-Sep

grass

Primary seed source in fall and winter diet; flocks forage on mature seed heads

grass

grass seed consumption throughout year; nests in grass sods

shrub

Critical fall migration fuel source, berries consumed during southbound migration Sep-Oct

grass

Primary winter food source, Dec-Feb

perennial herb

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

perennial herb

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

tree

Cache juniper seeds in autumn and consume throughout winter; important seed dispersal agent

grass

critical seed resource during fall migration and winter resident period; peak foraging September-March

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

Late summer-fall staging and migration fuel Sep-Oct

grass

critical winter seed resource Nov-Mar for overwintering and migrating populations in California

shrub

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

vine

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

annual

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

annual

Primary seed resource during fall migration and winter, especially Sep-Nov

tree

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

shrub

Early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment Mar-May

shrub

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

perennial herb

Spring migration nectar source Feb-May; critical during northbound migration

tree

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

perennial herb

Migration staging fuel Aug-Sep during northbound passage through California

shrub

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

grass

cover and nesting habitat in meadow systems year-round

shrub

Fall and winter fruit consumption supports migration and overwintering

tree

Harvests and caches seeds; important secondary disperser Oct-Dec

grass

Primary grass-foraging species; gleaning seeds and invertebrates from grass tufts

shrub

caches and consumes drupes in fall and winter

perennial herb

spring/early summer blooming period for nectar foraging

tree

Year-round acorn storage and consumption from granary trees

shrub

roost and nest in shrub cavities and dense foliage

grass

nests woven among rush stems March-July; dependent on dense Juncus stands

perennial herb

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

shrub

Nesting and cover in coastal sage scrub habitat

grass

primary seed diet for resident and wintering populations in grasslands

shrub

Summer breeding season in Sierra Nevada foothills where R. quercetorum occurs

vine

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

shrub

Riparian shelter and nesting cover in willow thickets

perennial herb

Herbaceous vegetation provides nesting habitat and insect foraging substrate

perennial herb

Critical fall migration staging fuel; winter resident foraging Sep-Mar in coastal CA

perennial herb

Critical breeding season fruit source, feeds young on berries June-July

perennial herb

Year-round resident using dense manzanita for nesting and cover in chaparral and scrub habitat

perennial herb

critical spring migration staging and early breeding season fuel

perennial herb

resident year-round in serpentine grasslands; uses seeds as staple food

grass

resident and migratory populations utilize grass seeds year-round; nesting habitat

shrub

Flocks consume white berries; key winter and migratory staging resource

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

shrub

Fall and winter diet staple; supports flocking behavior Aug-Feb

tree

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

perennial herb

Important migrant staging food, critical late summer-fall

geophyte

berries consumed during breeding season and post-fledgling period

perennial herb

forages on sedge rhizomes and shoots during fall/winter migration staging Nov-Mar

shrub

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

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

Important winter diet component; caches seeds for overwinter survival

perennial herb

nesting and cover in marsh habitat where C. nudata occurs

perennial herb

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

grass

critical fall migration fuel source; grazes on mature seed heads September-November

grass

Primary seed consumer in arid shrubsteppe habitats; important winter and breeding season food source

shrub

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

shrub

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

shrub

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

perennial herb

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

annual

Critical spring arrival and fall migration staging fuel source

perennial herb

Fall migration staging; feeds on rush seeds in preparation for winter

perennial herb

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

grass

Critical fall and winter seed source during migration and overwintering Nov-Mar

shrub

Nesting and territorial cover in coastal sage scrub habitat

perennial herb

Wetland specialist utilizing smartweed in marsh and pond margins

perennial herb

Critical refueling during southbound migration August-September

grass

critical fall and winter seed diet in California grasslands

shrub

early spring nectar source during breeding season establishment

grass

migration staging and overwintering seed resource; critical for winter survival in California

shrub

Important year-round nectar resource; supports breeding and winter survival

shrub

Important fruit source during fall migration and winter staging

annual

Critical spring migration fuel source Mar-Apr for northbound migrants

perennial herb

consume berries during fall migration and winter months

shrub

Primary food source Sep-Feb, critical during winter months

perennial herb

Early spring migrant; critical fuel source during northward migration and breeding season (Mar-May)

perennial herb

Dense evergreen structure provides critical nesting and roosting habitat; year-round refuge