About three-fourths of all birds build nests less than 15 feet above the ground with an average height of eight feet. Some songbirds nest in tree cavities, in steep banks and cliffs, abandoned woodpecker holes, and on bare ground. FOOD Most fruits, seeds, and insects, along with small animal life, are consumed by songbirds. Most birds are insectivorous during all or part of their lives providing an important biological control on destructive forest insects. Common songbird foods.
Many forest birds use open water.
A bathing area should be no more than 2 to 3 inches deep with a relatively hard bottom. The bath area should be gently sloping, free of vegetation, and kept fresh. Avoid having any dense ground cover within 10 to 15 feet. Open water, such as impoundments, marshes, and beaver ponds provide a highly diverse habitat for a wide variety of birds. Selected songbird species common to major successional stages.