WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Cedar Waxwings are in Nebraska all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in early June (12% of checklists), and fall back by early August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Nebraska.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakJun 1-7early June
Fall back byAug 1-7early August
FewestJan 8-14the second week of January

Best: early June. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of May and fall back by early August. Peak: on about 12% of Nebraska checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingMay 8-14May 8-14Jun 1-7Aug 1-712%
0%5%10%15%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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Stanton CountyBest late June · 23 checklists that week, 835 in all43%
  2. Thomas CountyBest the second week of May · 37 checklists that week, 610 in all40%
  3. Wayne CountyBest mid November · 12 checklists that week, 1,960 in all36%
  4. Knox CountyBest the second week of July · 16 checklists that week, 2,080 in all34%
  5. Dawes CountyBest late August · 118 checklists that week, 2,926 in all34%
  6. Colfax CountyBest late June · 14 checklists that week, 284 in all33%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Nebraska?
Cedar Waxwings are in Nebraska all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in early June (12% of checklists), and fall back by early August. In the quietest week (the second week of January) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Nebraska.
When do waxwings leave Nebraska?
Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Nebraska: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early August, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Nebraska?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early June, on about 12% of Nebraska checklists.