Here are wonderful ideas of plants that grow well in containers and are good for birds:

The following container plants, suggested by Earthly Goods are native, grow well in containers for those with small spaces, and are great for birds:

Annuals:
Prairie Aster, Aster/Manchaeranthera tanacetifolia
Plains Coreopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria dwarf
Indian Blanket, Gaillardia pulchella 
Five-Spot, Nemophila maculata
Baby-Blue Eyes, Nemophila menziesii
Tidy Tips, Layia platyglossa

Perennials:  Not often grown in containers long-term but can be done.
Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Crimson Clover, Petalostemum purpureum
Scarlet Sage, Salvia coccinea
Beard Tongue White, Penstemon digitalis

The following plants were suggested by Irene Lekstutis, Landscape Designer  from the Cornell Plantations

Coreopsis
Rudbeckia hirta (gloriosa daisy)
Cosmos
Celosia (cockscomb)
Zinnia (low growing types such as the Profusion Series)
Salvia greggii
Salvia gauranitica
Amaranth various types
Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Majesty' (black leaf millet)

Shrubs:
Blueberry (needs acid growing medium)
Sambucus (elderberry)
Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' (dwarf winterberry- needs male plant for pollination and fruiting)
Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) yellow leaf form

Highly Recommended Resources

  'Hummingbird Gardens'  by Stephen  W. Kress,
Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds' by Stephen W. Kress