Washington · Year-round resident

Red-winged Blackbirds in Washington

When red-winged blackbirds are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.

Blackbirds (Icteridae)Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus

Status in Washington: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 2–3 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–9a

When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Washington

Red-winged Blackbirds live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grass seeds and waste grain.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.

Nesting in Washington

Across Washington, 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.

Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.

Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Washington plants that attract red-winged blackbirds

Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 8 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Feeding red-winged blackbirds through the Washington 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 Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.

Full diet breakdown for red-winged blackbirds · Best feeder for red-winged blackbirds

Frequently asked

Are red-winged blackbirds in Washington year-round?

Yes. Red-winged Blackbirds are year-round residents in Washington.

When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Washington?

Nesting in Washington 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 Washington?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.

Other backyard birds in Washington

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.