Attracting birds to your yard or garden can be a wonderful experience. Not only do they add a touch of beauty and entertainment, but many species also serve as natural pest control agents. These bird friends feast on a wide range of garden pests, including notorious culprits like cabbage worms, grasshoppers, whiteflies, aphids, moths, stinkbugs, earwigs, cucumber beetles, and grubs.
This guide will introduce you to the beneficial birds that prey on these pests and provide valuable tips on how to entice them to visit your garden.
13 Good Bug-Hunting Birds
While many bird species rely heavily on insects for sustenance, some are more notable bug-eaters than others. In the United States, several common bird species can be found feasting on bugs in backyards and neighborhoods alike. It’s likely that you already have a few of these birds visiting your yard, so consider what tweaks you could make to encourage even more.
Even if your typical avian visitors don’t include these bug-lovers, take a moment to observe the local bird population and identify potential contributors. By providing shelter and nesting opportunities near your garden, you may just attract some valuable new friends.
Bluebirds
Bluebirds are renowned insectivores, boasting an impressive array of species depending on the region you inhabit. The Eastern, Western, and mountain bluebirds are just a few of the many varieties that can be found across the country. Sharing a kinship with robins, these birds share a striking similarity in their color palettes. As you may expect, the presence of bluebirds in your area is influenced by the seasons.
In some regions, they’re year-round residents, while in others, they migrate during the warmer months. All of these species are undeniably charming, with insatiable appetites that make them a delight to attract to your garden. Insectivores extraordinaire, bluebirds feast on a diverse range of garden pests, including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, larvae, and moths. They also develop a taste for elderberry and sumac berries.
To entice these birds to your outdoor space, consider offering mealworms in nearby bird feeders – though be prepared to take action should the opportunistic European starling attempt to invade their territory. When it comes to bluebird habitats, open fields with mature trees are their ideal setting. Moreover, they possess specific housing requirements, making a DIY bluebird house project an excellent endeavor for families or teenagers.
Cardinals
Cardinals, with their vibrant red plumage, add a pop of color to the winter landscape. These birds primarily consume seeds and fruits as adults, and a feeder filled with sunflower seeds, safflower, and cracked corn is a delightful treat during this time. However, when spring arrives, they shift their focus to feeding insects to their young, including larger ones like beetles, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, stinkbugs, and snails.
To accommodate their changing needs, gardeners can provide a mix of seeds and insects as a food source. In terms of shelter, cardinals appreciate the dense foliage of fruit trees and bushes, which they utilize to protect themselves from predators. I had the pleasure of hosting several pairs in my orchard last year, where they seemed to enjoy snacking on plum curio larvae alongside the chickens’ leftover grains.
Evergreens also serve as a vital refuge during winter, shielding cardinals from harsh weather conditions and predators. Interestingly, these birds don’t use birdhouses for nesting purposes; instead, they opt for shrub thickets. To support their natural habits, gardeners can consider planting their preferred trees or providing essential nesting materials.
Purple Martins
Purple martins are skilled aerial predators, akin to barn swallows, which they closely relate to. These birds expertly swoop down on unsuspecting insects, feeding on a diverse array of flying pests including flies, grasshoppers, moths, beetles, and dragonflies, as well as the occasional wasp. Notably, they also exhibit a preference for nesting in open spaces at considerable heights, often forming colonies. The concept of a ‘martin apartment complex’ is likely familiar to many.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that purple martins are experiencing decline across significant portions of their range, making efforts to attract them to your garden a mutually beneficial endeavor.
According to Cornell University, the conservation of these birds relies on the provision of specialized housing. This can be achieved by either purchasing a pre-fabricated structure or downloading instructions to construct one yourself.
In order to successfully attract purple martins, it’s crucial that the housing unit is mounted in an open area, at a minimum height of 15 feet, and ideally oriented towards the south or southwest. A pole-based mounting system with adjustable heights can further facilitate maintenance tasks.
Nuthatches
The red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches are common sights across the country, recognizable by their distinctive yank-yank calls reminiscent of car horns. These birds are important players in many ecosystems, not only because they feed insects to their young during the spring breeding season, but also because they help control pest populations by consuming a wide variety of tree and shrub-dwelling insects, including borers, caterpillars, ants, and earwigs.
In orchards, their insectivorous habits can be particularly beneficial. However, nuthatches are not above defending their territory against other cavity-nesting birds, and may even usurp their rivals’ nesting sites. Interestingly, the red-breasted nuthatch has been known to utilize tree resin as a natural adhesive when building its nest cavity.
Oriole
In their native habitats across the Eastern and Central United States, orioles thrive in a variety of environments. While they’re often associated with fruit-based birdfeeders and oranges, these birds have a more nuanced diet that changes with the seasons. During fall and winter, orioles do indeed feast on fruit, but come spring, their menu shifts to include an abundance of insects. Insect larvae, beetles, flies, moths, caterpillars, and even grasshoppers are all fair game for these birds.
Their preferred habitats tend to be tall, open trees like poplars, willows, and cottonwoods, where they can easily survey their surroundings. The same trees that attract orioles also provide a bounty of fruit, including mulberries, elderberries, brambles, cherries, mountain ash, and hazelnuts. One of the most distinctive features of oriole nests is their unique sock-like design, crafted from fibers collected by the birds themselves.
If you’re looking to entice these birds to your yard, consider purchasing hanging nests that mimic the conditions they’d find in the wild.
Titmice
Throughout North America, various species of titmice thrive in their natural habitats. These small birds have adapted to survive by feasting on a diet rich in small insects and seeds. Their sharp eyesight enables them to pinpoint and devour aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, and beetles with ease. In many regions, these birds play an important role in overwintering, and by providing a birdfeeder filled with sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, and millet, you can encourage them to linger.
When it comes to nesting, titmice show a remarkable preference for settling into cozy boxes placed near mature trees on sturdy poles. Interestingly, the bridled titmouse that inhabits the southwest is known to have an extended family network that plays a significant role in raising its young, highlighting the importance of community and cooperation within these fascinating birds.
Wrens
Despite their small size and unassuming brown plumage, wrens are expertly camouflaged, making them easily overlooked unless you’re deliberately searching for them. Their drab coloration serves as an effective protection mechanism during the harsh winter months.
These tiny bird hunters are incredibly adept at snatching up a wide variety of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, grubs, snails, and ants.
In addition to their insectivorous diet, wrens also consume seeds from various weed species.
Wrens are widely distributed across the United States, and their distinct sound is often described as effervescent by Cornell University. In winter, they can be tempted with peanut butter-filled pine cones and suet cakes.
When it comes to choosing a nesting site, wrens aren’t particularly fussy about the type of birdhouse they inhabit, but they do require an opening of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches.
It’s not uncommon for these birds to take up residence in small openings found in urban settings such as garages or back porches.
To enhance their nesting experience, consider attaching a guard to deter predators and providing a nearby brush pile for them to hide in.
A fascinating tidbit about male wrens is that they often initiate multiple nests with the intention of luring a female. She then selects the ‘right’ one.
Chickadees
Chickadees are voracious consumers of grubs, worms, and caterpillars, suggesting that these birds play a significant role in maintaining ecological balance. Each adult chickadee is capable of producing up to eight chicks, resulting in a substantial population of birds that can effectively eliminate unwanted garden pests.
Moreover, the reproductive potential of chickadees means that they can be relied upon to regulate pest populations in your yard, providing a natural and sustainable form of integrated pest management.
In terms of housing preferences, different species of chickadees exhibit distinct habits, although many can be attracted to birdhouses or allowed to nest in existing cavities such as old stumps.
This adaptability makes it relatively easy to invite these birds into your yard, where they can contribute to a thriving ecosystem.
Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers occupy a peculiar place in our perception of their role in the garden. While they can be a nuisance by creating unwanted holes, their presence also brings numerous benefits, such as eliminating pests like beetles and aphids. A remarkable aspect of woodpeckers is their tendency to remain in a specific area throughout the year, making them valuable assets during the winter months when other creatures may have migrated away.
With over a dozen varieties to choose from, gardeners can invite these feathered friends into their outdoor spaces by providing them with shelter, access to water, and a safe haven like a birdhouse or cavity nesting spot.
Tanagers
Tanagers are insects connoisseurs, with a diverse diet that includes a wide variety of insects. What’s remarkable about these birds is their unique ability to remove the venomous stinger from wasps and hornets before consuming them – a rare skill in the animal kingdom. In contrast, many other bird species would typically avoid eating wasps and hornets due to the risk of being stung.
This peculiar behavior not only showcases the tanagers’ adaptability but also highlights their potential role as natural pest controllers. For gardeners, having tanagers around can be a blessing in disguise, as these birds can significantly reduce the number of painful stings from wasps and hornets while working in the garden.
Sparrows
House sparrows have a unique affinity for human habitats and exhibit a distinct foraging pattern. They tend to hunt during dawn and dusk, but won’t hesitate to seize an opportunity to snag a snack, whether it’s a French fry or some other tasty morsel. In addition, these birds are dedicated parents, providing their young with insects as a primary food source.
To ensure the best possible sustenance for their chicks, they time their breeding cycles to coincide with peak insect activity, resulting in a natural pest control service that benefits humans. This synchronized approach means that when we need them most, house sparrows will be actively working to manage pests and maintain ecological balance.
House and Purple Finches
When it comes to their culinary habits, house finches have a distinct preference for consuming insects that can be detrimental to gardens. Their diet consists of aphids, beetles, and caterpillars, with purple finches being particularly adept at tackling some of the most notorious garden pests. Specifically, they feast on potato beetles, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, leafhoppers, and leafminers, showcasing their impressive ability to curtail the spread of unwanted visitors in the garden.
Hummingbirds
While they’re often associated with sipping nectar from flowers, hummingbirds are actually opportunistic feeders that also consume tiny insects like aphids, mites, and mosquitoes. This dual feeding behavior has an added benefit – these iridescent visitors to your garden also play a crucial role in pollination, providing a double whammy of ecological benefits for you.
How to Attract Bug-Loving Birds
Creating a bird-friendly habitat in your garden not only attracts these feathered friends but also provides a natural and chemical-free way to control pests. By meeting the basic needs of birds – food, water, and shelter – you can create a haven that benefits both humans and wildlife. While some requirements are universal, such as providing a water feature that serves many bird species, others are specific to individual types of birds, which can be quite finicky about their housing needs.
For further insight into creating the perfect bird-friendly habitat, consider consulting National Wildlife’s Foundation publication ‘Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife’ by David Mizejewski.
The Right Food
When it comes to attracting birds that prey on pests in your garden, it’s essential to consider the diverse diets of these feathered friends. While some birds do focus on insect consumption, many others have a varied appetite that includes seeds, nuts, and even fruits. Providing feeders with a mix of seeds and nuts can be an effective way to attract birds that also happen to enjoy snacking on insects.
Seasonality also plays a crucial role in a bird’s diet.
For instance, during the spring emergence of insects, certain species may focus more on bug-based meals. As summer arrives, they might shift their attention to berry-picking, and then transition to seed-munching as fall sets in. It’s not uncommon for nesting birds to supplement their young with insect-based meals, demonstrating the importance of a varied diet in these feathered families.
Provide Water
Water plays a vital role in a bird’s life, serving both as a source of drinking water and a means for bathing. Installing a birdbath in your garden can be a thoughtful gesture, allowing birds to quench their thirst without having to travel far. Birds are social creatures that thrive in environments where they can gather and mingle. When it comes to providing water for these feathered friends, a low-to-moderate depth basin holding one to two inches of water is ideal.
Many bird species prefer running water sources like shallow streams or creeks. To make your birdbath more appealing, consider adding a bubbler feature. This not only provides the birds with a source of fresh water but also helps to create a sense of movement and activity. In the colder months, heating your birdbath can be a game-changer, ensuring that these essential water sources remain unfrozen when other options are scarce.
Give Them Shelter
Birds require not only sustenance but also a safe haven to call their own. This sanctuary serves as a refuge from the elements, predators, and even other birds vying for attention. The ideal location can vary greatly depending on the species, with some preferring the lofty heights of mature trees while others opt for the dense foliage of shrubs or undergrowth.
Existing features in your landscape can readily provide shelter, including sturdy tree branches, thorny bushes, and even man-made structures like wooden fence posts, shed roofs, or electrical lines.
Keep Your Cats Indoors
While it’s natural for cats to crave bird prey, it’s crucial to prioritize bird populations when seeking their help in controlling pests. This means keeping your feline friends indoors, rather than letting them roam free and potentially decimate local songbird populations. Cats are instinctual predators, but domesticated house cats don’t need to hunt for sustenance. In fact, the increasing cat population has contributed to declining bird numbers in many areas.
Since we provide domesticated cats with safe havens and protection from natural predators, the ratio of cats to birds has become skewed. For cat owners who feel uneasy about keeping their pets indoors, consider building a catio – an outdoor enclosure that allows your felines to bask in the sun and enjoy fresh air while safeguarding both themselves and local bird species.
