Red-winged Blackbirds in New York
When red-winged blackbirds are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in New York
Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on dragonflies, beetles and caterpillars.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, 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.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
Fall seed.
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.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding red-winged blackbirds through the New York 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 New York'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 New York year-round?
No. Red-winged Blackbirds are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in New York?
Nesting in New York 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 New York?
Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Black-eyed Susan, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.