u/MandyLovesBirding

Just an fyi I don't let my cats outside. This is a neighbors cat, unfortunately!

Fall is Berry Season — and the Birds Know It!
Please see my photos of Cedar Waxwings chowing down on a berry tree. What an incredible experience!

One of my favorite things about fall is watching the birds take advantage of all the berries and fruit that start showing up around the yard.

If you’re looking for a way to attract more birds naturally, fruiting trees and shrubs can be a game changer. As temperatures cool down, those berries become an important food source for a LOT of backyard birds.
Some of the berry-loving visitors you might see include:

Cedar Waxwings – These guys are basically berry connoisseurs! They especially love cedar berries, holly, dogwood and other small fruits.

American Robins – When insects become harder to find, robins happily switch to fruits and berries.

Eastern Bluebirds – Bluebirds aren't just insect eaters. Fall berries are a big part of their diet.
Northern Cardinals – They’ll eat berries from several native plants, especially when other food becomes less abundant.

Gray Catbirds – If there’s a berry-producing shrub nearby, there’s a good chance a catbird will eventually find it!

Mockingbirds – Another bird that loves fruit and can become a regular visitor when berries are plentiful.

And there are SO many others depending on where you live.

Some great fruiting plants for birds include American holly, beautyberry, serviceberry, dogwood, elderberry, mulberry, winterberry and native viburnums.

One thing I’ve really started appreciating about bird-friendly landscaping is that you don't necessarily have to put out more feeders to see more birds. Sometimes planting the right things can bring the birds to you. I even planted American Beautyberry for the birds to munch on!

What fruiting trees or berry-producing plants are attracting birds to YOUR yard this fall? And which bird seems to love them the most?
I’d love to hear what everyone is seeing!

Bonus: If you have photos of the birds eating the berries, PLEASE share them. I never get tired of seeing birds doing their thing!