WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Louisiana?

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

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Louisiana: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by the second week of December, peak in the second week of March (17% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in Louisiana.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 8-14the second week of November
Common byDec 8-14the second week of December
PeakMar 8-14the second week of March
Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: the second week of March. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 17% of Louisiana checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Louisiana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingNov 8-14Dec 8-14Mar 8-14May 8-1417%
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bossier ParishBest late April · 224 checklists that week, 3,463 in all61%
  2. St. Landry ParishBest mid April · 81 checklists that week, 2,172 in all42%
  3. Lafayette ParishBest the second week of March · 325 checklists that week, 14,990 in all42%
  4. La Salle ParishBest early March · 18 checklists that week, 847 in all41%
  5. Natchitoches ParishBest early March · 20 checklists that week, 1,010 in all38%
  6. Sabine ParishBest early April · 12 checklists that week, 541 in all36%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Louisiana?
Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Louisiana: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by the second week of December, peak in the second week of March (17% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in Louisiana.
When do waxwings leave Louisiana?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Louisiana by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Louisiana?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 17% of Louisiana checklists.