WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Kansas?

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

Cedar Waxwings reach Kansas in mid August, are common by early September, peak in mid May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of June. They are the only regular waxwings in Kansas.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 15-21mid August
Common bySep 1-7early September
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid August; most are gone by the second week of June. Peak: on about 15% of Kansas checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingAug 15-21Sep 1-7May 15-21Jun 8-1415%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Chautauqua CountyBest late November · 29 checklists that week, 723 in all50%
  2. Pratt CountyBest the second week of December · 52 checklists that week, 1,637 in all36%
  3. Jewell CountyBest late January · 12 checklists that week, 612 in all33%
  4. Washington CountyBest late November · 11 checklists that week, 277 in all29%
  5. Norton CountyBest late May · 21 checklists that week, 426 in all29%
  6. Pottawatomie CountyBest mid May · 300 checklists that week, 8,405 in all28%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Kansas?
Cedar Waxwings reach Kansas in mid August, are common by early September, peak in mid May (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of June. They are the only regular waxwings in Kansas.
When do waxwings leave Kansas?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Kansas by the second week of June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of July.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Kansas?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid May, on about 15% of Kansas checklists.