Hi. Does anyone know what type of bush this is? Small birds love to hide inside. This photo is Winter time with no leaves on the bush. Branches are on the hard side or hard to cut/trim. This bush apparently offers a secure hiding place and protection for small birds from the harsh elements and animal predators ie cats. My sister has two of these bushes, she doesn't know what they are, and little birds are always hiding inside. Birds may nest in this bush also, Im not sure of that.
I want to find out what this is and plant some like it especially since it gives good protection for small birds.
Thank you!

Does it has winged stems?. can we see the close up photo of stem?
What was the fall color? red leaves?
it reminds me of burning bush

It's a Winged Euonymus. probably Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'.

Hi RandyM:

There is no question that this plant is a Euonymus alatus - probably 'Compactus' - as that plant is one of the most over-used shrubs in the midwest United States. It is known to be an invasive exotic pest species in some regions. I would not recommend increasing its numbers in your landscape.

Alternatively, if your goal is to provide cover for small birds in your landscape - which is a tremendously laudable reason - then you could select another species of shrub which can provide cover as well as make other seasonal contributions.

The shrub you've shown is so dense because it has been regularly sheared, and has produced multiple stems from each point where it was cut. This is a characteristic of many plants that are often used for hedges. I suggest you take a quick look at an Iowa Cooperative Extension Service publication (Iowa State University is your land grant university) or a similar institution from a state with similar growing conditions to Iowa (Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois would all suffice).

Deciduous Shrubs https://store.extension.iastat...
Pruning Shrubs https://store.extension.iastat...
Viburnums https://store.extension.iastat...

See what the range of shrubs are that handle shearing, produce dense twiggy canopies when sheared, and that flower/fruit/fall color nicely in Iowa. I think you will be surprised that there are likely at least a dozen choices that you could try.

Then, you can consider the variety of ways to make small birds happier and safer from life's traumas - by providing not only cover, but also a food source as well as nesting habitat and possibly even satisfying some neighborhood pollinators.

Thanks for the replies. The bush in question is probably a euonymus alatus compactus but I don't remember seeing it so red. I just remember the green leaves. And my goal is to have a bush that attracts birds and protects them. Not too large of a bush.

In googling I've seen that the Arrowwood Viburnum is bird friendly. Not sure if birds gather inside like with the euonymus alatus compactus.
When spring leaves appear on my sisters euonymus alatus I will add a photo.

I have more than a few Arrowwood Viburnum right around my house here at the Valley. I can vouch for the fact that birds regularly gather within their stems and branches. It is a popular retreat from their pastime of eating seed from our feeders, when they are startled by larger birds or squirrels.

When the ample Arrowwood Viburnum fruit ripen in mid/late summer, it is a feeding frenzy for many bird species.

There are many other choices you can make. Take your time, and see what works for all your considerations. It just may be more than one species...

Thanks John. I was thinking more of going the Arrowwood Viburnum route after researching. The birds love the berries it sounds like.

The red leaves of that Euonymus are only fall color.
There's nothing innately attractive to birds in Euonymus, I think its a shrub that happens to be in a place they want to sit in, and likely they will gather in a new bush as well, or better, given food.
DO think about mature size of new shrub purchases.