Backyard Birding Checklist: July Birds, Tips & To-Dos!

So, it’s July. The sun’s blazing, the iced tea is sweating, and your backyard? It’s begging for a makeover, one that turns it into the hottest bird destination in the neighborhood. If you’ve ever thought, “How do I make my yard a 5-star resort for birds this summer?” you’re in the right place.

This isn’t just another generic “put out a birdbath” type of checklist. We’re going practical, personal, and maybe a little opinionated (in a good way). Whether you’re a seasoned birder with binoculars in every room or just starting out and wondering why birds seem to ignore your feeder like it’s spam mail, this Backyard Birding Checklist: July Edition has your back.

Why Native Plants Matter to Birds 🌱🐦

Let’s kick this off with a truth bomb: if you’re not using native plants, you’re missing half the point.

Native plants are like your local diner, familiar, comforting, and always busy. Birds rely on them for food (like actual bugs and berries), shelter, and nesting spots. Non-native plants might look pretty, but they’re basically Instagram models, flashy but not offering much substance.

What Native Plants Do for Birds:

• Attract native insects (which = dinner for birds)
• Produce seeds and berries birds actually eat
• Provide natural nesting materials
• Offer familiar cover and safety

A few years ago, I made the mistake of loading my yard with tropical-looking ornamentals I found on sale. Sure, it looked like a resort. But it was about as bird-friendly as a plastic cactus. Once I switched to native milkweed, bee balm, and coneflowers? Boom. Goldfinches, hummingbirds, and chickadees showed up like I was giving out free pizza.

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Best Native Plants for Summer Bird Support 🌻🪶

So what should you plant right now to make your yard pop in July? Here’s a list of high-performing native plants that double as eye candy and bird magnets:

Top Picks for Eastern and Central North America

• Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): Seeds for finches, and butterflies love it too.
• Bee balm (Monarda): This one’s a hummingbird magnet. Plant it and wait.
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Tough, cheerful, and birds love the seed heads.
• Wild bergamot: It attracts hummingbirds and smells amazing.
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier): Great for thrushes and cedar waxwings.

For Western Birders

• California fuchsia (Epilobium canum): Bright red flowers = hummingbird rave.
• Oregon grape (Mahonia): Evergreen with berries. Stellar for cover and food.
• Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia): Also called “Christmas berry.” Big hit with robins and bluebirds.

FYI: If you’re unsure what’s native to your area, sites like Audubon’s native plant database are legit lifesavers.

How to Match Plants with Bird Species 🎯

Don’t just throw random plants around like you’re in some botanical roulette. Want to see specific birds? Match your plant game to their needs.

Hummingbirds

• Love: Trumpet-shaped red flowers.
• Plant: Bee balm, cardinal flower, columbine.

Goldfinches

• Love: Seed heads.
• Plant: Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, sunflowers.

Thrushes and Waxwings

• Love: Berries.
• Plant: Serviceberry, elderberry, dogwood.

Sparrows and Towhees

• Love: Ground cover and seeds.
• Plant: Switchgrass, little bluestem, native sedges.

Quick tip: Think of your yard like a buffet. Offer a mix of nectar, seeds, berries, and insects, and the birds will RSVP yes.

Creating a Bird-Friendly Landscape (Without Making It Look Like a Jungle) 🌿

So how do you make all these plants work together? You want a landscape that’s bird-friendly and doesn’t make the HOA write you passive-aggressive letters.

Key Ingredients for Birdscaping:

• Layering: Think tall trees, mid-height shrubs, and ground plants. Birds like options.
• Water: Yes, again. Even a $20 birdbath from the hardware store helps.
• Dead stuff (yes, really): Leave a snag or two for woodpeckers and nuthatches.
• Open space: Birds need room to move, so don’t cram everything in like you’re playing plant Tetris.

I tried the “pack every plant into one corner” strategy once. Looked like a jungle salad. The birds were confused. I was confused. Lesson learned.

When and How to Plant (Hint: Don’t Wait Until October) ⏳

Look, July isn’t the best time to start from scratch, it’s hot, dry, and most nurseries look a little picked over. But if you’re adding or replacing a few things? Go for it.

What Works in July:

• Potted native perennials
• Drought-tolerant species (they’ll adjust quicker)
• Mulch, mulch, mulch to help retain water

Water every day for the first week or so, especially if you’re planting during a heatwave. Plants are like you, they hate moving in the middle of summer, but if you give them snacks (aka water), they’ll settle in.

Best Planting Tips:

• Dig holes twice the size of the pot.
• Break up the roots if they’re circling.
• Don’t fertilize right away, native plants usually don’t need it and might sulk if you do.

Mistakes to Avoid (AKA: Learn from My Regrets) 😬

Let’s be honest, we’ve all made a few “oops” moves in the yard. Here are some that birds (and your future self) will not appreciate:

The “Over-Mulcher”

• You meant well. But now you’ve smothered the roots and created a squirrel slip-n-slide.
• Use 2–3 inches max, and keep it away from plant stems.

The “Color Chaser”

• You loaded up on flashy flowers from the garden center, only to realize none of them are native.
• Birds want function over fashion.

The “No Water Warrior”

• You planted natives but assumed they’d survive on vibes alone.
• Even drought-tolerant plants need water to get started.

The “One-and-Done” Thinker

• You planted once and never touched it again.
• Gardening for birds is a relationship, not a one-night stand. Keep showing up.

Maintenance Tips for Long-Term Success 🛠️🐦

You’ve planted. You’ve watered. Birds are visiting. But how do you keep the party going?

Weekly Checklist:

• Deadhead spent flowers (unless you want seeds, then leave them).
• Top up birdbaths every few days.
• Check feeders for moldy seeds (gross, but it happens).
• Pull weeds before they become monsters.

Monthly:

• Observe who’s visiting. If you only see house sparrows and starlings, it might be time to tweak the setup.
• Cut back aggressive growers that are crowding out others.
• Refresh mulch if needed, especially around newer plants.

Seasonal (Yes, Already Thinking Ahead):

• Start planning for fall berry producers.
• Consider adding winter shelter plants like evergreen hollies or cedars.
• Think about leaving dead flower stalks over winter for foraging birds.

IMO, maintaining a bird-friendly yard is kinda like having a dog that doesn’t bark. Low effort, high payoff.

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Bonus: Native Plant Myths People Still Believe 🙄🌾

There’s a surprising amount of bad advice floating around out there. Let’s set the record straight.

“Native plants look messy.”

False. You just need to plant them with intention. Use borders, groupings, and vary the height. They’ll look just as good as any ornamental.

“They attract too many bugs.”

True-ish, but that’s the point. Birds eat the bugs. If you hate bugs and want birds, you’ve got a problem.

“You have to go 100% native or it doesn’t count.”

Wrong. Even adding a few native plants makes a difference. You don’t need to rip out your grandma’s peonies to help the birds.

“They don’t need any maintenance.”

I mean, sure, if you define “maintenance” as “ignore them entirely and hope for the best.” But realistically, they still need water, occasional trimming, and a little TLC.

Conclusion: Your July Birding Checklist Recap 📝🕊️

Let’s recap what we covered so you can actually do the thing:

• Use native plants to give birds real food and shelter.
• Pick the right plants for the birds you want to attract.
• Layer your landscape with height and variety.
• Plant carefully and water consistently, even in July.
• Avoid common mistakes like over-mulching and ignoring maintenance.
• Stay consistent, observe, and tweak as needed.
• Ignore the myths, and just start where you are.

Look, your yard doesn’t need to be a botanical garden. But with the right plants and a little effort, you can turn it into a July hotspot for hummingbirds, finches, and even the occasional diva cardinal who refuses to share the feeder.

So, grab a spade, pick a few plants, and start building your backyard bird paradise today. Who knows? You might end up loving it more than your actual patio.

And hey, when a goldfinch lands on your coneflower while you’re sipping iced coffee in your pajamas, you’ll know it was all worth it. 😉