When do waxwings leave District of Columbia?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave District of Columbia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.1% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in District of Columbia?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid May, on about 30% of District of Columbia checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in District of Columbia?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early May, peak in mid May (30% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 2.1% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in District of Columbia.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 1-7early May

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Fall back byJun 1-7early June

FewestJan 15-21mid January

Best: mid May. Here all year; numbers build from early May and fall back by early June. Peak: on about 30% of District of Columbia checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marrare
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Waxwings in District of Columbia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	May 1-7	May 1-7	May 15-21	Jun 1-7	30%

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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

District of Columbia CountyBest mid May · 3741 checklists that week, 121,721 in all30%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in District of Columbia?: Cedar Waxwings are in District of Columbia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early May, peak in mid May (30% of checklists), and fall back by early June. In the quietest week (mid January) they are still on about 2.1% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in District of Columbia.
When do waxwings leave District of Columbia?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave District of Columbia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early June, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.1% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in District of Columbia?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid May, on about 30% of District of Columbia checklists.