Red-winged Blackbirds in Northwest Territories
When red-winged blackbirds are present in Northwest Territories, when they nest, which native Northwest Territories plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1a yard.
- Status in Northwest Territories
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1a
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Northwest Territories
Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents in Northwest Territories, 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 boreal forest in the south, Arctic tundra in the north.
Nesting in Northwest Territories
Across Northwest Territories, 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.
Brief summers with midnight sun.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, balsam fir for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Northwest Territories plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Northwest Territories, these 8 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.
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 Northwest Territories 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 Northwest Territories'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 Northwest Territories year-round?
No. Red-winged Blackbirds are summer breeders in Northwest Territories and leave for the winter.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Northwest Territories?
Nesting in Northwest Territories 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 Northwest Territories?
Paper birch, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Northwest Territories that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Northwest Territories
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 — Northwest Territories
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.