Common Redpolls in Wisconsin
When redpolls are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in Wisconsin
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect redpolls in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, redpolls are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north. While here they rely on birch seed and feeder nyjer.
Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Native Wisconsin plants that attract redpolls
Of the regional native plants we track for Wisconsin, these 8 provide food or cover redpolls use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's winter: Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north.
Frequently asked
Are redpolls in Wisconsin year-round?
No. Common Redpolls are winter visitors in Wisconsin and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract redpolls in Wisconsin?
Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for redpolls.
Common Redpolls in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wisconsin
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 — Wisconsin
- 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.