For the birds: California native berries that birds love

California quail. Image credit: H. Vannoy Davis © California Academy of Sciences.

Each of these is native to California and attracts California thrashers, western bluebirds, American robins, northern flickers, Nuttall's woodpeckers, mockingbirds, cedar waxwings. scrub jays, northern flickers, yellow-rumped warblers and game birds such as wild turkey, pheasant, California quail and grouse. The blue elderberry on this list can be enjoyed by both people and birds! I have seen all of these bird species except grouse and pheasant in my yard; they are part of our area.

Evergreen:

Holly-leaved cherry - Tall, dense shrub 

Manzanitas - Multiple species of shrubs or trees   

Toyon (Christmas berry, California holly) - Mounding form to 8 feet 

Wax myrtle - Mounding form to 30 feet 

California coffeeberry (buckthorn) - Dense shrub that is easily pruned 

Deciduous:

Blue elderberry -

Hollyleaf cherry. Image credit: Beatrice F. Howitt © California Academy of Sciences.

California wild rose - Mounding form   

California grapes - Climber or woody ground cover 

Fuchsiaflower gooseberry - Mounding growth, has scarlet flowers and thorns 

Poison oak too! - Let the birds plant their own or control it if you prefer

Additional references:

Toyon. Image credit: J. E.(Jed) and Bonnie McClellan © California Academy of Sciences.

Birds and the plants they like: http://theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Birds

Our own blog: Wildlife Friendly Gardens Part I and II

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American Robin. Image credit: Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences.

Fuchsia flowering gooseberry. Image credit: William R. Hewlett © California Academy of Sciences.