WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Maryland?

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

Cedar Waxwings are in Maryland all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in late May (26% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Maryland.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Fall back byJun 8-14the second week of June
FewestMar 8-14the second week of March

Best: late May. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of May and fall back by the second week of June. Peak: on about 26% of Maryland checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Waxwings in Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingMay 8-14May 8-14May 22-31Jun 8-1426%
0%10%20%30%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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Garrett CountyBest mid August · 507 checklists that week, 37,616 in all53%
  2. Allegany CountyBest the second week of August · 251 checklists that week, 18,322 in all49%
  3. Baltimore CountyBest late May · 4267 checklists that week, 136,139 in all37%
  4. Montgomery CountyBest mid May · 6233 checklists that week, 219,548 in all34%
  5. Harford CountyBest late May · 1282 checklists that week, 39,311 in all34%
  6. Queen Anne's CountyBest the second week of November · 418 checklists that week, 26,875 in all30%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Maryland?
Cedar Waxwings are in Maryland all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in late May (26% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (the second week of March) they are still on about 2.5% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Maryland.
When do waxwings leave Maryland?
Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Maryland: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of June, 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 Maryland?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in late May, on about 26% of Maryland checklists.