WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Mississippi?

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

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in early November, they are common by mid November, peak in mid March (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Mississippi.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 1-7early November
Common byNov 15-21mid November
PeakMar 15-21mid March
Most gone byMay 15-21mid May

Best: mid March. First arrivals early November; most are gone by mid May. Peak: on about 14% of Mississippi checklists.

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

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

Waxwings in Mississippi, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingNov 1-7Nov 15-21Mar 15-21May 15-2114%
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Warren CountyBest mid March · 46 checklists that week, 1,855 in all39%
  2. Union CountyBest late December · 15 checklists that week, 508 in all35%
  3. Adams CountyBest late February · 20 checklists that week, 1,749 in all31%
  4. Forrest CountyBest early May · 113 checklists that week, 4,572 in all30%
  5. Winston CountyBest mid December · 17 checklists that week, 382 in all29%
  6. George CountyBest late March · 19 checklists that week, 490 in all28%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Mississippi?
Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Mississippi: the first arrive in early November, they are common by mid November, peak in mid March (14% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May. They are the only regular waxwings in Mississippi.
When do waxwings leave Mississippi?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Mississippi by mid 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 Mississippi?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid March, on about 14% of Mississippi checklists.