Red-winged Blackbird in January
Where red-winged blackbirds are in January, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
January in the Red-winged Blackbird's year
January is the coldest month across most of the US and Canada. Natural food is at its scarcest — insects are dormant, many seed heads are stripped, and snow cover hides what remains. Birds concentrate where food is reliable, which makes this the single best month to watch a well-stocked feeding station.
For the Red-winged Blackbird specifically, January is a winter 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 January
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In January, 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 January
Red-winged blackbirds are not nesting in January. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes.
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 January
- Grass seeds and waste grain
One of the earliest spring returns in the north; males arrive weeks before females to claim marsh territories.
Keep feeders consistently filled; birds add dependable stations to their daily foraging routes and suffer when one suddenly runs empty during a cold snap. High-energy foods matter most now.
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 January, 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 January?
In January, 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 January?
No — red-winged blackbirds typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-winged blackbirds eat in January?
Grass seeds and waste grain.
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.