Common Redpoll in August
Where redpolls are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Common Redpoll's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Common Redpoll specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 29 states and provinces where redpolls occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where redpolls are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, redpolls are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Redpolls are not nesting in August. The season runs June–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, redpolls put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Seeds and insects on the tundra
Redpolls survive −60°F nights with a throat pouch that stores seed; they arrive at feeders in irruption winters.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Common Redpoll diet guide → · Best feeder for redpolls →
Watching redpolls this month
Redpolls are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region redpolls are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Common Redpoll month by month
Common Redpoll by state
Frequently asked
Where are redpolls in August?
In August, redpolls are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do redpolls nest in August?
No — redpolls typically nest June through July at mid-latitudes.
What do redpolls eat in August?
Seeds and insects on the tundra.
Sources
- Common Redpoll — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Redpoll life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Redpoll — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.