Red-winged Blackbirds in Idaho
When red-winged blackbirds are present in Idaho, when they nest, which native Idaho plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in Idaho
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Idaho
Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents in Idaho, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on dragonflies, beetles and caterpillars.
Semi-arid sagebrush plains along the Snake River and forested mountains to the north and center.
Nesting in Idaho
Across Idaho, red-winged blackbirds typically nest from April–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.
Hot, dry summers in the Snake River Plain and cool mountain summers.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, common hackberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Idaho plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Idaho, these 8 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
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.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Feeding red-winged blackbirds through the Idaho 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 Idaho'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 Idaho year-round?
No. Red-winged Blackbirds are summer breeders in Idaho and leave for the winter.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Idaho?
Nesting in Idaho typically runs April–July, with 2–3 per season. Clutches are 2–4 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract red-winged blackbirds in Idaho?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Common hackberry are native plants in Idaho that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Idaho
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 — Idaho
- 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.