Which Birds Eat Holly Berries?
When it comes to Holly berries, birds are one of the main predators. They will take the berries from the tree when ripe and like to snack on them all day. So, which types of birds are attracted to the holly berries? There are quite a few that enjoy eating these little fruits.
Holly berries are a favorite snack for many birds because of their high sugar content. They are contained in the bright red berries on the holly shrubs. If you go outside this time of year and look closely at the bushes and trees, birds see seesee birds flitting around eating the berries. I was sitting on my back porch one sunny afternoon with my two Siberian Huskies when I noticed several birds hopping around in my neighbor’s yard. It was fun to sit there and watch the birds eat the tasty berries on the bushes.
Many birds and other animals enjoy holly berries (Ilex species) as a food source. Birders, particularly those in colder climates, often plant hollies for this reason. You’ll find the top 10 birds that eat holly berries in the list below top toptop 10 birds that eat holly berries.
American Robin
American Robin
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. migratorius |
The berries of the holly bush are a favorite food of American Robins. They eat them to keep their body temperatures up in the winter and summer, as well as to provide energy for migrating in the spring. American Robins can be found throughout North America, and they prefer to dwell in orchards where they can eat a lot of holly berries.
European Robin
European Robin
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae |
| Genus | Erithacus |
| Species | E. rubecula |
| Length | 12.5–14.0 cm |
| Weight | 16–22 g |
The European Robin is a tiny bird found in the UK and parts of Europe. They may nest in practically any place with some cover, although their preferred breeding grounds are woodlands and forest margins.
They’re a migratory species, which means they’ll spend the winter in warmer areas before returning home in the spring. The robin like to consume berries from holly bushes because it provides them with enough energy to migrate!
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Bombycillidae |
| Family | Passeriformes |
| Genus | Bombycilla |
| Species | B. cedrorum |
Cedar Waxwings migrate south to their nesting grounds every year in late winter or early spring. This is frequently due to the frigid temperatures and a scarcity of food. On the other hand, these birds eat holly berries, which can give them more food than they can obtain on their long trek south.
When they reach their destination, they frequently gorge themselves on whatever berries are available before moving on to the woodland where they will nest.
Eastern Bluebirds
Eastern Bluebird
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Sialia |
| Species | S. sialis |
| Length | 16–21 cm |
| Weight | 35 g |
Eastern bluebirds are little songbirds found in the eastern United States. They are endemic to North America. These birds can be seen eating holly berries regularly. They eat the berry and use it to decorate their nests, or they may perch near a tree with berries and peck at them now and again.
It eats berries, high in minerals and sugar, to keep its energy levels up when it can’t find other food sources due to the cold.
Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Mimidae |
| Genus | Dumetella C.T. Wood, 1837 |
| Species | D. carolinensis |
| Length | 21 – 24 cm |
| Weight | 35 g |
In the Eastern United States, the gray catbird is a common bird. These birds are most commonly seen around forests, woodlands, and parks to feed on holly berries.
Other berries that they enjoy eating include blackberries, raspberries, and mulberries. Because it imitates the sounds of other creatures such as crows and red-winged blackbirds, the Gray Catbird is sometimes known as a “mocker.”
Common Blackbird
Common Blackbird
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. merula |
| Length | 23.5–29 cm |
| Weight | 80–125 g |
The common blackbird belongs to the thrush family of birds. They can be found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, among other places. Common blackbirds eat holly berries during the winter months. Due to the scarcity of food at this period, this is the case.
These birds have also been observed eating various foods, including seeds and nuts from various trees, fruits from plants, and even insects found in lawns and fields.
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Catharus |
| Species | C. guttatus |
| Length | 15 to 18 cm |
| Weight | 37g |
The Hermit Thrush is a North American songbird. Many animals are looking for food at the start of the winter season. When other food sources are depleted, animals like the hermit thrush devour holly berries.
In the summer, the hermit thrush eats mostly insects, but in the winter, it eats fruit. When insects are scarce, the only option for the bird is to eat fruit or starve.
Mistle Thrush
Mistle Thrush
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. viscivorus |
| Length | 27–28 cm |
| Weight | 88g |
Mistle Thrush resides in the northern hemisphere. It has brownish-gray feathers that are difficult to see. The Mistle Thrush has one of the most unusual melodies of any bird, sounding like rain on leaves or grass.
It frequently builds its nest in holly bushes because they provide excellent camouflage, critical for its survival. You can observe them congregating around the holly trees that line our streets during December and February.
Fieldfare
Fieldfare
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Turdidae |
| Genus | Turdus |
| Species | T. pilaris |
| Length | 25 cm |
| Weight | 140g |
The Northern Fieldfare is a bird found in the Northern Hemisphere. England, Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia are the most common places to find them. The birds move to warmer climates; however, they do not migrate south of the Sahara Desert.
They are part of the thrush family, including robins, sparrows, bluebirds, blackbirds, and jays. From fruit to microscopic insects, the Fieldfare will eat them all. When other food supplies have been depleted, they might be seen eating holly berries in the winter.
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Mimidae |
| Genus | Mimus |
| Species | M. polyglottos |
| Length | 28 cm |
| Weight | 1.4–2.0 oz |
The Northern Mockingbird is a migratory bird that spends the summer in Canada and other northern parts of the United States but migrates south in the fall to spend the winter in the United States. Because these birds are so common, they can be found practically anyplace in North America.
Because their territory has become untenable owing to snowfall, they normally migrate down to Mexico or Central America for the winter. This kind of bird will eat holly berries during this time of year, which will aid them in their journey.
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cardinalidae |
| Genus | Cardinalis |
| Species | C. cardinalis |
| Length | 21 – 24 cm |
| Weight | 43 g |
Northern Cardinals have been one of the most popular bird species in North America for many years. Their eye-catching crimson plumage with a black mask across their eyes contributes to their popularity. Northern Cardinals can be found across North America, including Alaska and Canada, although they are most common in the eastern United States, where deciduous trees abound.
They typically eat seeds and insects, although in the winter months, when food is scarce, they will supplement their diet with fruit such as the sweet holly berry.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Cyanocitta |
| Species | C. cristata |
| Length | 22 – 30 cm |
| Weight | 65 – 110 g |
The Corvidae family includes the Blue Jay, one of the largest ranges in North America. Insects, berries, nuts, seeds, fruits, and even eggs from other birds have been observed.
The Blue Jay will eat holly berries on occasion during the winter, although they only make up a small part of their diet.