When do waxwings leave California?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left California by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid June.

When is the best time to see waxwings in California?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early May, on about 10% of California checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in California?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings reach California in late July, are common by the second week of September, peak in early May (10% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular waxwings in California.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 22-31late July

Common bySep 8-14the second week of September

PeakMay 1-7early May

Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: early May. First arrivals late July; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 10% of California checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Jununcommon
Julrare
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in California, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Jul 22-31	Sep 8-14	May 1-7	May 22-31	10%

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 California 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 California

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Humboldt CountyBest early August · 1309 checklists that week, 95,963 in all31%
Sacramento CountyBest late October · 3060 checklists that week, 121,767 in all31%
Sutter CountyBest the second week of September · 52 checklists that week, 4,996 in all28%
San Joaquin CountyBest late October · 886 checklists that week, 33,237 in all24%
San Francisco CountyBest early May · 2848 checklists that week, 130,018 in all24%
Del Norte CountyBest early June · 330 checklists that week, 16,363 in all24%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in California?: Cedar Waxwings reach California in late July, are common by the second week of September, peak in early May (10% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular waxwings in California.
When do waxwings leave California?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left California by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid June.
When is the best time to see waxwings in California?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early May, on about 10% of California checklists.