WhenToBird

2 waxwing species in Alaska

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Alaska?

Adult Bohemian Waxwing
Photo: Nigel Voaden, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Bohemian Waxwings and Cedar Waxwings are the waxwings you are most likely to see in Alaska. Bohemian Waxwings are winter birds in Alaska: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by early November, peak in early December (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byNov 1-7early November
PeakDec 1-7early December
Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: early December. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 9.9% of Alaska checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Mayrare
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in Alaska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Bohemian WaxwingOct 15-21Nov 1-7Dec 1-7Mar 15-219.9%
Cedar WaxwingJun 8-14Jun 8-14Jul 8-14Sep 15-211.5%
0%5%10%15%Bohemian WaxwingCedar WaxwingJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Bohemian Waxwing
  • 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 Alaska 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 Alaska

Best counties for Bohemian Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Matanuska-Susitna BoroughBest early December · 230 checklists that week, 23,028 in all24%
  2. Anchorage MunicipalityBest late December · 654 checklists that week, 65,703 in all23%
  3. Skagway MunicipalityBest the second week of November · 12 checklists that week, 2,045 in all20%
  4. Yukon-Koyukuk Census AreaBest the second week of July · 158 checklists that week, 2,835 in all16%
  5. Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest early April · 346 checklists that week, 23,771 in all12%
  6. Southeast Fairbanks Census AreaBest early July · 172 checklists that week, 3,009 in all12%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Alaska?
Bohemian Waxwings are winter birds in Alaska: the first arrive in mid October, they are common by early November, peak in early December (9.9% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March.
When do waxwings leave Alaska?
Most Bohemian Waxwings have left Alaska by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid April.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Alaska?
The Bohemian Waxwing is reported most often in early December, on about 9.9% of Alaska checklists.
Which waxwings are in Alaska?
Bohemian Waxwing and Cedar Waxwing are reported regularly; the Bohemian Waxwing is the most common.