Red-winged Blackbirds in Alaska
When red-winged blackbirds are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Alaska
Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on dragonflies, beetles and caterpillars.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, red-winged blackbirds typically nest from May–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.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, white spruce, tamarack for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alaska plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 6 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.
Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding red-winged blackbirds through the Alaska 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 Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for red-winged blackbirds · Best feeder for red-winged blackbirds
Frequently asked
Are red-winged blackbirds in Alaska year-round?
No. Red-winged Blackbirds are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs May–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–4 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract red-winged blackbirds in Alaska?
Paper birch, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
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 — Alaska
- 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.