WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Georgia?

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

Cedar Waxwings reach Georgia in mid October, are common by the second week of November, peak in early May (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Georgia.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 15-21mid October
Common byNov 8-14the second week of November
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byMay 15-21mid May

Best: early May. First arrivals mid October; most are gone by mid May. Peak: on about 14% of Georgia checklists.

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

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

Waxwings in Georgia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingOct 15-21Nov 8-14May 1-7May 15-2114%
0%5%10%15%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 Georgia 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 Georgia

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Crawford CountyBest mid January · 11 checklists that week, 573 in all51%
  2. Jeff Davis CountyBest early May · 23 checklists that week, 627 in all50%
  3. Dodge CountyBest the second week of December · 32 checklists that week, 369 in all45%
  4. Brantley CountyBest late February · 16 checklists that week, 364 in all36%
  5. Muscogee CountyBest early April · 367 checklists that week, 12,544 in all36%
  6. Grady CountyBest mid March · 31 checklists that week, 921 in all36%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Georgia?
Cedar Waxwings reach Georgia in mid October, are common by the second week of November, peak in early May (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Georgia.
When do waxwings leave Georgia?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Georgia by mid May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Georgia?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early May, on about 14% of Georgia checklists.