You’ve probably filled a bird feeder up with seeds or nuts to try to attract more birds into your garden. But there are actually some birds that prefer to feed on fruits.
Below, we’ve revealed 14 popular birds that love to eat garden fruits.
1) American Robin
Location: Nationwide
Habitat: Forest, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Turdus Migratious
The American Robin is a familiar sight across the United States, with its distinctive reddish-orange breast, gray back, and white patches around the eyes. Males tend to have brighter plumage than females.
These birds are commonly found in gardens, where they forage for worms and insects on the ground.
They are also attracted to fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, particularly favoring berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. You might also find them enjoying apples, grapes, and other soft fruits. They are known to be quite bold, often feeding close to humans.
2) Cedar Waxwing
Location: Nationwide
Habitat: Open Woodlands, Orchards
Rarity: Common
Latin: Bombycilla Cedrorum
Cedar Waxwings are sleek, medium-sized birds with a distinctive crest on their heads. They have brownish heads, a black eye mask, and yellow-tipped tails.
One of their most notable features is the bright red, wax-like tips on their wing feathers. Cedar Waxwings are highly social and are often seen in flocks.
They have a particular fondness for berries, including those from serviceberry, juniper, and holly bushes. They can also be attracted to fruit trees like apple and cherry.
3) Northern Cardinal
Location: Central US
Habitat: Woodlands, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Cardinalis Cardinalis
The Northern Cardinal is easily identifiable by its striking red plumage (in males), black face mask, and prominent crest. Females are a more subdued brown but still have a noticeable crest and warm reddish accents.
Cardinals are common in gardens, particularly those with dense shrubbery for nesting. They eat a variety of fruits, including berries, apples, and grapes, but they also feed on seeds and insects.
4) Baltimore Oriole
Location: Central US
Habitat: Woodlands, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Icterus Galbula
Baltimore Orioles are vibrant birds with a striking orange and black coloration in males, and a more muted yellow-brown in females.
They have a slender, slightly downcurved bill. To attract these birds to your garden, consider offering slices of orange, as they are known to be particularly fond of citrus. They also enjoy berries, cherries, and apples.
5) Eastern Bluebird
Location: Eastern US
Habitat: Open Woodlands, Fields
Rarity: Common
Latin: Sialia Sialis
Eastern Bluebirds are small, with bright blue upperparts and a rusty red breast. Females are less brightly colored than males. They prefer open habitats and can often be found perching on wires or fences.
In gardens, they enjoy feeding on various berries, including serviceberries, holly berries, and elderberries. They will also eat small fruits like cherries and grapes.
6) Scarlet Tanager
Location: Eastern US
Habitat: Mature Deciduous Forests
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Piranga Olivacea
The Scarlet Tanager is a striking bird with brilliant red plumage in males and a more subdued yellow-olive coloration in females. They have black wings and tails, and the males’ bright coloration makes them easy to spot when they are present.
These birds prefer mature deciduous forests but can be attracted to gardens with fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. They eat a variety of fruits, including mulberries, blueberries, and cherries.
7) Orchard Oriole
Location: Central US
Habitat: Open Woodlands, Orchards
Rarity: Common
Latin: Iceterus Spurius
Orchard Orioles are small, with males sporting a chestnut and black plumage, and females being a more subdued yellowish-green.
They prefer open woodlands and can be attracted to gardens with nectar feeders, as they also feed on nectar in addition to fruit. In gardens, they enjoy fruits like cherries, berries, and apples.
8) House Finch
Location: Nationwide
Habitat: Urban Areas, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Haemorhous Mexicanus
House Finches are small and stout, with males having a bright red head, throat, and chest, while females are brown and streaked. They are common in urban and suburban areas, including gardens.
They enjoy feeding on a variety of fruits, including apples, cherries, peaches, and berries. They are also known to eat seeds and insects.
9) Brown Thrasher
Location: Central US
Habitat: Dense Brush, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Toxostoma Rufum
The Brown Thrasher is a large songbird with a long tail and curved bill, boasting a reddish-brown coloration and dark streaks on its chest. They prefer dense vegetation and can be found in gardens with thick shrubs.
They eat a variety of fruits, including berries, apples, and grapes, in addition to insects and seeds.
10) Gray Catbird
Location: Central US
Habitat: Thickets, Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Dumetella Carolinesis
Gray Catbirds are slender, medium-sized birds with a uniform slate gray coloration and a black cap. They have a distinctive “mew” call, similar to a cat’s meow.
They are commonly found in gardens with dense shrubbery, where they eat a variety of fruits including berries, cherries, and grapes, in addition to insects.
11) Mockingbird
Location: Nationwide
Habitat: Urban Gardens, Suburban Gardens
Rarity: Common
Latin: Mimus Polyglottos
Mockingbirds are medium-sized birds with a gray coloration, white patches on their wings, and a long tail. They are known for their varied and melodic songs, and their ability to mimic other birds’ calls.
They are common in gardens and urban areas, where they eat a variety of fruits including berries, apples, and grapes, in addition to insects.
12) Yellow Warbler
Location: Nationwide
Habitat: Marshes, Edges of Ponds
Rarity: Common
Latin: Setophaga Petechia
Yellow Warblers are small, with a vibrant yellow coloration and fine streaks on their chests. Males are generally brighter than females.
They are commonly found near water, but during migration, they can be seen in gardens where they eat a variety of fruits including berries and small stone fruits, in addition to insects.
13) Bullock’s Oriole
Location: Western US
Habitat: Open Woodlands, Gardens
Rarity: Uncommon
Latin: Icterus Bullockii
Bullock’s Orioles are medium-sized birds with a striking pattern of orange, black, and white in males, and a more subdued yellow-orange and gray in females.
They prefer open woodlands but can be attracted to gardens with fruit-bearing trees and nectar feeders. They enjoy eating fruits like oranges, apples, and berries.
14) Western Bluebird
Location: Western US
Habitat: Open Forests, Fields
Rarity: Common
Latin: Sialia Mexicana
Western Bluebirds are small, with bright blue upperparts and a rust-red breast in males, and a more subdued coloration in females. They prefer open habitats and can often be found perching on wires or fence posts.
In gardens, they enjoy feeding on various berries, including serviceberries, elderberries, and currants, in addition to small fruits like cherries and grapes.
Spotted Any?
Have you come across any of these? Let everybody know by commenting at the bottom of this page.
