To attract birds, it is important to plant trees with several different characteristics. In addition to planting trees and shrubs that provide seeds and berries, it is equally important to include plants that provide perching, cover and nesting areas. Birds require the security of nearby cover or they will not repeatedly return to an area to feed.
Many birds like to look for food on the ground under the protection of dense, twiggy shrubs.
A mix of shrubs, evergreen and deciduous trees will provide cover and nesting places for birds. Include thorny plants like hawthorns or some types of plums and shrub roses. The thorns keep predators away. Trees that will provide food and cover include many species of hawthorn, oak, mountain ash, Rocky Mountain juniper, Austrian and pinyon pines, spruces, firs, hackberries, plums and flowering crabapples. Shrubs that will provide food and cover include honeysuckles, snowberries, red and yellowtwig dogwoods, sumacs, coralberries, serviceberries, chokecherries and a wide variety of shrubby plums.