When do waxwings leave Idaho?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Idaho: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early December, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Idaho?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in late July, on about 20% of Idaho checklists.

Which waxwings are in Idaho?

Cedar Waxwing and Bohemian Waxwing are reported regularly; the Cedar Waxwing is the most common.

2 waxwing species in Idaho

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Idaho?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings are the waxwings you are most likely to see in Idaho. Cedar Waxwings are in Idaho all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late May, peak in late July (20% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (mid April) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 22-31late May

PeakJul 22-31late July

Fall back byDec 1-7early December

FewestApr 15-21mid April

Best: late July. Here all year; numbers build from late May and fall back by early December. Peak: on about 20% of Idaho checklists.

Jancommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Idaho, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	May 22-31	May 22-31	Jul 22-31	Dec 1-7	20%
Bohemian Waxwing	Nov 15-21	Nov 15-21	Jan 15-21	Mar 15-21	2.5%

Cedar Waxwing
Bohemian 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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Lewis CountyBest the second week of July · 19 checklists that week, 603 in all61%
Clearwater CountyBest mid July · 70 checklists that week, 1,909 in all48%
Adams CountyBest early July · 113 checklists that week, 5,826 in all47%
Benewah CountyBest late July · 61 checklists that week, 2,541 in all46%
Madison CountyBest the second week of September · 80 checklists that week, 3,887 in all45%
Bingham CountyBest the second week of June · 36 checklists that week, 1,427 in all45%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Idaho?: Cedar Waxwings are in Idaho all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from late May, peak in late July (20% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (mid April) they are still on about 2.4% of checklists.
When do waxwings leave Idaho?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Idaho: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early December, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.4% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Idaho?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in late July, on about 20% of Idaho checklists.
Which waxwings are in Idaho?: Cedar Waxwing and Bohemian Waxwing are reported regularly; the Cedar Waxwing is the most common.