Birds that provide pollination services are attracted to bright, bold blooms that offer a sip of sweet nectar. These blooms are often red, orange, or pink (though they may be any color). They typically have narrow, tubular flower shapes to accommodate the long, thin bills of expert bird pollinators. Flowers that are pollinated by larger bird species often have sturdy stems to support the weight of a perched bird. Flowers that rely on bird pollination are often odorless because birds have very little sense of smell. Blooms are open during the day when birds are most active. The flower’s nectar is often hidden deep inside the bloom. This ensures that the bird has to come into close contact with the flower and its pollen in order to reach the nectar.

When a bird visits a flower, it must dive deep into the bloom to get its sweet reward. As it does this, the flower’s pollen rubs off on the bird’s bill, head, back, or breast and sticks to the bird. When the bird then visits another flower—since each bloom only provides one small sip rather than a full meal—the pollen is transferred to the next flower and the plant is successfully fertilized.

Things you can do to help pollinators get through the winter.

1. Leave fallen leaves where they lie or keep raked leaves in your yard.
   Place branches over any raked piles of leaves to keep them in place.
2. Avoid clearing dead stems and brush out of your garden. By allowing
   twigs, leaf litter and brush to remain creates an abundance of winter
   pollinator homes, with almost no effort.
3. Add native, winter-blooming plants to your garden. Some insects will
   emerge in winter to feed, and they need carbohydrates from floral nectar
   for nourishment.
4. Don’t disturb bare areas of soil in your garden. Many wild bees spend
   the winter in small nests in the ground. This habitat helps them stay warm and safe.