Backyard Birding · Plan your habitat

Backyard Habitat Planner

Answer a few quick questions about your yard. You will get a habitat score, a prioritized list of what to add next, the birds each step can attract in your region, and a printable plan to work from.

Region sets which birds your additions can realistically attract.

Food

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Feeders plus food-bearing native plants. Native plants also raise the insects that most birds feed their young.

Which feeders do you keep?
Native plants that make seeds, berries, or nectar?

Water

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Clean water draws birds that ignore feeders entirely, especially during migration and dry spells.

What water do you offer?

Shelter

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Layers of cover give birds places to hide from weather and predators.

Native trees
Native shrubs or dense cover
Do you also have any of these?

A snag is a standing dead tree or limb left safely in place. It offers insects to eat and holes to nest in.

Places to nest

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Nest boxes and dense native plantings give birds somewhere to raise the next generation.

Nest boxes
Are your boxes sized and placed for a local species?

Safety

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A yard that draws birds in should keep them safe once they arrive.

Windows that birds might fly into
Cats around the yard

A catio is an enclosed outdoor space that lets a cat enjoy fresh air without hunting birds.

Pesticide and herbicide use

Species suggestions are general guidance for your region and may vary by habitat and season. Verify local specifics with eBird and local resources.