Common Redpolls in Quebec
When redpolls are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.
- Status in Quebec
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
When to expect redpolls in Quebec
In Quebec, redpolls are winter visitors rather than breeders. Long, cold, snowy winters. While here they rely on birch seed and feeder nyjer.
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Native Quebec plants that attract redpolls
Of the regional native plants we track for Quebec, these 8 provide food or cover redpolls use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
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.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Feeding redpolls through the Quebec 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 Quebec's winter: Long, cold, snowy winters.
Frequently asked
Are redpolls in Quebec year-round?
No. Common Redpolls are winter visitors in Quebec and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract redpolls in Quebec?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple are native plants in Quebec that provide food or cover for redpolls.
Common Redpolls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Quebec
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 — Quebec
- 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.