Vines That Attract Birds

Ivy

• As an evergreen, the English ivy (Hedera helix) provides year-round protection for birds and cover for ground-nesting birds such as towhees. It's very hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, and should be planted in partial to full shade. The Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is a deciduous option that will grow in the sun as well as shade, and it produces an insignificant bluish-black berry that birds love to eat. And if you'd like to keep your neighbors away from your birds, Wendy Patmos of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension recommends poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), which is an excellent source of food for birds in fall and winter.

Wild Grape

• You might associate grape vines with California and France, but some varieties of wild grape (such as Vitis spp.) will grow as far as USDA zone 2. The riverbank grape (V. riparia) is one such vine that provides birds with food in late summer, fall and winter and cover in summer. It can be grown in sun or deep shade. The Muscadine (V. rotundifolia), fox (V. labrusca) and frost graped (V. vulpina) are other good choices for birds, although not as cold-hardy. Grape vines also provide nest sites, nesting material and cover for a variety of birds. Species known to be attracted to grape vines include bluebirds, cardinals, robins, vireos, warblers, orioles, thrushes, thrashers and wild game birds.

Flowering Vines

• Almost any vine that produces brightly colored, trumpet-shaped flowers is likely to attract hummingbirds. Among hummingbird favorites are coral bean (Erythrina herbacea), morning glory (Ipomoea spp.), honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and trumpet creeper. The coral bean and morning glory are annual vines that prefer sunny locations. Honeysuckle will grow in sun or partial sun in a variety of USDA zones depending on the species. The trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) grows in sun to partial shade in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Nonflowering Vines

• The Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a deciduous vine that produces a fruit in the fall that remains on the vine long after its leaves are gone. It's an important food source for a large variety of birds including bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, cardinals, flycatchers, vireos, warblers, pileated woodpecker and others. It grows in sun to partial shade in USDA zones 6 through 9. The American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is another native plant that provides a fair food source for songbirds and wild game birds in fall and winter. It grows in sun or partial shade in zones 4 through 8.