Common Redpolls in Alberta
When redpolls are present in Alberta, when they nest, which native Alberta plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 2a–4b yard.
- Status in Alberta
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
When to expect redpolls in Alberta
In Alberta, redpolls are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south. While here they rely on birch seed and feeder nyjer.
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Native Alberta plants that attract redpolls
Of the regional native plants we track for Alberta, these 8 provide food or cover redpolls use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding redpolls through the Alberta 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 Alberta's winter: Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south.
Frequently asked
Are redpolls in Alberta year-round?
No. Common Redpolls are winter visitors in Alberta and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract redpolls in Alberta?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Alberta that provide food or cover for redpolls.
Common Redpolls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alberta
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 — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.