In the past we have emphasized the importance of keystone species in supporting bird populations, and by extension broader food webs. These species are larval hosts to a wide variety of lepidoptera, supporting caterpillars that then become food for baby birds in summer. But what do birds eat in the winter when the caterpillars are gone?
They eat berries!
The berries that grow on native trees and shrubs provide food for wildlife in the fall and winter months when other food sources are scarce. Migratory songbirds find these berries especially valuable as they make their journey south.
But are all berries created equal?
In 2015, Susan Smith and Scott McWilliams published the results of a study that analyzed the nutritional value of native berries and ranked their value to migratory birds. They suggest “planting or encouraging the growth of at least two species from the ‘Highly recommended’ list plus plant species from the other lists when possible.” Consider the three lists below when looking for the best berries for birds.
Highly recommended and preferred by migratory birds |
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| Common Name | Scientific Name | Photo |
| Arrowwood Viburnum | Viburnum dentatum |  |
| Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia |  |
| Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa |  |
| Silky Dogwood | Cornus amomum |  |
| Redosier Dogwood | Cornus sericea |  |
Recommended and eaten by many migratory songbirds |
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| Common Name | Scientific Name | Photo |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier canadensis |  |
| Elderberry | Sambucus canadensis |  |
| Spicebush | Lindera benzoin |  |
| Pokeweed | Phytolacca americana |  |
| Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida |  |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana |  |
| Highbush Blueberry | Vaccinium corymbosum |  |
Recommended and eaten by a few migratory songbirds and overwintering birds |
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| Common Name | Scientific Name | Photo |
| Northern Bayberry | Morella pensylvanica |  |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata |  |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpa |  |
| Mapleleaf Viburnum | Viburnum acerifolium |
 Joseph stewart at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons; Cropped |
| Nannyberry Viburnum | Viburnum lentago |  |
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