WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Arizona?

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

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Arizona: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early November (2.6% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular waxwings in Arizona.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 8-14the second week of September
Common bySep 8-14the second week of September
PeakNov 1-7early November
Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: early November. First arrivals the second week of September; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 2.6% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingSep 8-14Sep 8-14Nov 1-7May 22-312.6%
0%1%2%3%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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Apache CountyBest mid January · 82 checklists that week, 12,931 in all7.8%
  2. Yavapai CountyBest the second week of May · 2442 checklists that week, 83,606 in all5.8%
  3. Greenlee CountyBest the second week of May · 168 checklists that week, 2,745 in all5.1%
  4. Navajo CountyBest the second week of November · 214 checklists that week, 18,838 in all5.1%
  5. Gila CountyBest the second week of November · 222 checklists that week, 14,834 in all5.0%
  6. Santa Cruz CountyBest late November · 2555 checklists that week, 162,726 in all3.8%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Arizona?
Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Arizona: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in early November (2.6% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular waxwings in Arizona.
When do waxwings leave Arizona?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Arizona by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Arizona?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early November, on about 2.6% of Arizona checklists.