When do waxwings leave Iowa?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early November, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.5% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Iowa?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 22% of Iowa checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Iowa?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are in Iowa all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late May, peak in the second week of September (22% of checklists), and fall back by early November. In the quietest week (mid April) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Iowa.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 22-31late May

PeakSep 8-14the second week of September

Fall back byNov 1-7early November

FewestApr 15-21mid April

Best: the second week of September. Here all year; numbers build from late May and fall back by early November. Peak: on about 22% of Iowa checklists.

Januncommon
Febrare
Marrare
Aprrare
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Waxwings in Iowa, species by species

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

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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Clarke CountyBest early October · 11 checklists that week, 459 in all56%
Keokuk CountyBest the second week of June · 10 checklists that week, 243 in all55%
Franklin CountyBest late July · 16 checklists that week, 331 in all50%
Floyd CountyBest mid June · 10 checklists that week, 417 in all48%
Winneshiek CountyBest mid August · 37 checklists that week, 3,054 in all47%
Fayette CountyBest late June · 12 checklists that week, 1,130 in all46%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Iowa?: Cedar Waxwings are in Iowa all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from late May, peak in the second week of September (22% of checklists), and fall back by early November. In the quietest week (mid April) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Iowa.
When do waxwings leave Iowa?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early November, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.5% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Iowa?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of September, on about 22% of Iowa checklists.