WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Alabama?

Adult Cedar Waxwing
Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Alabama: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in mid March (17% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Alabama.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byNov 8-14the second week of November
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Most gone byMay 15-21mid May

Best: mid March. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by mid May. Peak: on about 17% of Alabama checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junrare
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Seprare
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Waxwings in Alabama, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingOct 15-21Nov 8-14Mar 15-21May 15-2117%
0%5%10%15%20%Cedar WaxwingJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Cedar Waxwing
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alabama that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Alabama

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Houston CountyBest the second week of March · 146 checklists that week, 6,424 in all55%
  2. Marengo CountyBest the second week of March · 49 checklists that week, 2,453 in all48%
  3. Coffee CountyBest early March · 25 checklists that week, 689 in all43%
  4. Geneva CountyBest mid April · 64 checklists that week, 3,203 in all41%
  5. Conecuh CountyBest late December · 20 checklists that week, 780 in all38%
  6. Macon CountyBest mid January · 97 checklists that week, 4,809 in all36%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Alabama?
Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Alabama: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in mid March (17% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Alabama.
When do waxwings leave Alabama?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Alabama by mid May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Alabama?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid March, on about 17% of Alabama checklists.