When do waxwings leave Missouri?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left Missouri by early January, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early February.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Missouri?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 15% of Missouri checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Missouri?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Missouri: the first arrive in mid August, they are common by late August, peak in the second week of November (15% of checklists), and most are gone by early January. They are the only regular waxwings in Missouri.

When to look

First arrivalsAug 15-21mid August

Common byAug 22-31late August

PeakNov 8-14the second week of November

Most gone byJan 1-7early January

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid August; most are gone by early January. Peak: on about 15% of Missouri checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Missouri, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Aug 15-21	Aug 22-31	Nov 8-14	Jan 1-7	15%

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 Missouri 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 Missouri

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Audrain CountyBest late September · 11 checklists that week, 331 in all66%
Knox CountyBest late November · 11 checklists that week, 215 in all54%
Marion CountyBest mid September · 36 checklists that week, 1,284 in all50%
Lewis CountyBest early June · 13 checklists that week, 1,047 in all46%
Gasconade CountyBest mid November · 22 checklists that week, 478 in all45%
Ripley CountyBest the second week of May · 26 checklists that week, 1,058 in all44%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Missouri?: Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Missouri: the first arrive in mid August, they are common by late August, peak in the second week of November (15% of checklists), and most are gone by early January. They are the only regular waxwings in Missouri.
When do waxwings leave Missouri?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left Missouri by early January, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early February.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Missouri?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 15% of Missouri checklists.