When do waxwings leave Michigan?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Michigan: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.6% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Michigan?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 31% of Michigan checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Michigan?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are in Michigan all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of July (31% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 2.6% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Michigan.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 1-7early June

PeakJul 8-14the second week of July

Fall back bySep 15-21mid September

FewestMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of July. Here all year; numbers build from early June and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 31% of Michigan checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marrare
Aprrare
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Waxwings in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Jun 1-7	Jun 1-7	Jul 8-14	Sep 15-21	31%

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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Ogemaw CountyBest late July · 105 checklists that week, 4,675 in all67%
Clinton CountyBest mid August · 176 checklists that week, 10,597 in all56%
Ionia CountyBest mid August · 54 checklists that week, 5,509 in all53%
Benzie CountyBest the second week of July · 380 checklists that week, 14,114 in all52%
Schoolcraft CountyBest late July · 158 checklists that week, 3,719 in all51%
Ontonagon CountyBest the second week of July · 79 checklists that week, 3,548 in all50%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Michigan?: Cedar Waxwings are in Michigan all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of July (31% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 2.6% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Michigan.
When do waxwings leave Michigan?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Michigan: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Michigan?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of July, on about 31% of Michigan checklists.