Common Redpolls in Alaska
When redpolls are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
When to expect redpolls in Alaska
Common Redpolls are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in July and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on seeds and insects on the tundra.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, redpolls typically nest from July. Nest site: cup low in shrubs on the tundra. Females lay 4–5 eggs, incubate for 10–11 days, and young leave the nest after 10–14 days.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Common Redpolls don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, willow (bebb), dwarf birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alaska plants that attract redpolls
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 4 provide food or cover redpolls use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding redpolls through the Alaska year
Redpolls survive −60°F nights with a throat pouch that stores seed; they arrive at feeders in irruption winters.
- Best foods: Nyjer, Hulled sunflower.
- In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Frequently asked
Are redpolls in Alaska year-round?
No. Common Redpolls are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do redpolls nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 10–11 days.
What native plants attract redpolls in Alaska?
Paper birch, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for redpolls.
Common Redpolls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
Sources
- Common Redpoll — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Redpoll life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Redpoll — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.