Attract These Types Of Birds To Your Yard With A Beautiful Redbud Tree

The eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) signals springtime by putting on a proliferation of little pink flowers before it even sprouts leaves. These ornamental trees also offer a perfect pop of color for small spaces in backyards since they're compact in size. Many types of feathered friends, ranging from thrushes to wrens, can be spotted among the branches every spring, too, so these trees can be a great addition to a backyard if attracting birds to your garden is your goal. A redbud tree can attract some of your favorites — songbirds, wild game, and even beloved hummingbirds.

Do a search for images of birds in redbud trees, in fact, and you'll notice hue upon hue as the blues, yellows, reds, and oranges of avian visitors have been photographed among the gorgeous blooming branches. Native plants are perfect for bringing birds to your yard, and redbud trees fall into that category. Birds instinctively know all those pink flowers draw a bevy of insects each spring, and they can't resist visiting to have a snack or two. Late in the summer, redbuds put on seed pods, and some birds will return to feast on those as well.

What types of birds can you expect to attract with a redbud tree? Don't be surprised if you see finches, mockingbirds, titmice, chickadees, orioles, nuthatches, and woodpeckers frequenting a blooming tree. Even hummingbirds have been seen buzzing around in their flowery branches. When it comes to eating the seed pods, they're known to attract quail, cardinals, and rose-breasted grosbeaks. Wild turkeys, deer, and squirrels like the seeds as well, so if those animals tend to be a nuisance in your area, keep that in mind. With a little forethought, however, you can choose the right location on your property to add a redbud or two and enjoy watching the birds that frequent them throughout the spring and summer.

Do we have you thinking about adding an eastern redbud to your bird-friendly landscaping? If you live in the eastern half of the United States in zones 4 to 9, you're on the right track. The best time of year to plant redbuds varies from area to area but they do need plenty of sun to thrive and flower so keep that in mind when selecting a spot for them. These trees grow rapidly when young, but it will take about four to six years before they start putting on blooms. Knowing that a proliferation of beautiful bird-attracting flowers is in your future can be worth the wait, though.