Red-winged Blackbird in August
Where red-winged blackbirds are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Red-winged Blackbird'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 Red-winged Blackbird specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 61 states and provinces where red-winged blackbirds occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-winged blackbirds are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, red-winged blackbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident 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
Red-winged blackbirds are not nesting in August. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, red-winged blackbirds 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
- Dragonflies, beetles and caterpillars
One of the earliest spring returns in the north; males arrive weeks before females to claim marsh territories.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Red-winged Blackbird diet guide → · Best feeder for red-winged blackbirds →
Watching red-winged blackbirds this month
Red-winged blackbirds 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 red-winged blackbirds are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Red-winged Blackbird month by month
Red-winged Blackbird by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-winged blackbirds in August?
In August, red-winged blackbirds are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-winged blackbirds nest in August?
No — red-winged blackbirds typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-winged blackbirds eat in August?
Dragonflies, beetles and caterpillars.
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
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.