Common Redpolls in Minnesota
When redpolls are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect redpolls in Minnesota
In Minnesota, redpolls are winter visitors rather than breeders. Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras. While here they rely on birch seed and feeder nyjer.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Native Minnesota plants that attract redpolls
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover redpolls use:
Nectar and seed.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Feeding redpolls through the Minnesota 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 Minnesota's winter: Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras.
Frequently asked
Are redpolls in Minnesota year-round?
No. Common Redpolls are winter visitors in Minnesota and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract redpolls in Minnesota?
Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for redpolls.
Common Redpolls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
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 — Minnesota
- 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.