Redwing blackbirds are summer nesters here in western Canada, preferring swampy or shallow lake conditions. They are often seen on cattails or other plants above the water level, keeping a lookout. Here, the species is not a problem with crops, although other species of blackbird sometimes are in fairly large numbers.

They migrate in the fall to the warmer half of the U. S. or farther south, probably joining with those who live there the year round. I would suspect those from Alberta would winter farther west than Arkansas, but don't know for sure.