Red-winged Blackbirds in Alabama
When red-winged blackbirds are present in Alabama, when they nest, which native Alabama plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7a–9a yard.
- Status in Alabama
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7a–9a
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Alabama
Red-winged Blackbirds live in Alabama all year. Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grass seeds and waste grain.
Humid subtropical, with Gulf-influenced warmth in Mobile and Baldwin counties and cooler Appalachian foothills in the northeast.
Nesting in Alabama
Across Alabama, red-winged blackbirds typically nest from March–July. Nest site: woven cup lashed to cattails or shrubs over water. Females lay 2–4 eggs, incubate for 11–13 days, and young leave the nest after 11–14 days.
Long, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms — ventilated boxes and daily-refreshed water matter.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alabama plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Alabama, these 8 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Feeding red-winged blackbirds through the Alabama year
One of the earliest spring returns in the north; males arrive weeks before females to claim marsh territories.
- Best foods: Cracked corn, Millet, Sunflower.
- In Alabama's winter: Freezes are short and snow is rare; feeder traffic peaks as goldfinches, siskins and sparrows arrive from the north.
Full diet breakdown for red-winged blackbirds · Best feeder for red-winged blackbirds
Frequently asked
Are red-winged blackbirds in Alabama year-round?
Yes. Red-winged Blackbirds are year-round residents in Alabama.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Alabama?
Nesting in Alabama typically runs March–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–4 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract red-winged blackbirds in Alabama?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush, Wild bergamot are native plants in Alabama that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alabama
Sources
- Red-winged Blackbird — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-winged Blackbird life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-winged Blackbird — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alabama
- 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.