Red-winged Blackbirds in Yukon
When red-winged blackbirds are present in Yukon, when they nest, which native Yukon plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–1b yard.
- Status in Yukon
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 2–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–1b
When to expect red-winged blackbirds in Yukon
Red-winged Blackbirds are summer residents in Yukon, 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 continental with mountains, boreal forest and Arctic tundra in the north.
Nesting in Yukon
Across Yukon, 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.
Short summers with nearly 24-hour daylight.
- Red-winged Blackbirds don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, white spruce for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Yukon plants that attract red-winged blackbirds
Of the regional native plants we track for Yukon, these 7 provide food or cover red-winged blackbirds use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
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 Yukon 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 Yukon'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 Yukon year-round?
No. Red-winged Blackbirds are summer breeders in Yukon and leave for the winter.
When do red-winged blackbirds nest in Yukon?
Nesting in Yukon 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 Yukon?
Paper birch, Chokecherry, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Yukon that provide food or cover for red-winged blackbirds.
Red-winged Blackbirds in other regions
Other backyard birds in Yukon
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 — Yukon
- 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.