When do waxwings leave New Mexico?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left New Mexico by early June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.

When is the best time to see waxwings in New Mexico?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 4.6% of New Mexico checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings reach New Mexico in late July, are common by late August, peak in the second week of May (4.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early June. They are the only regular waxwings in New Mexico.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 22-31late July

Common byAug 22-31late August

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Most gone byJun 1-7early June

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late July; most are gone by early June. Peak: on about 4.6% of New Mexico checklists.

Janpeak season
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Jul 22-31	Aug 22-31	May 8-14	Jun 1-7	4.6%

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Eddy CountyBest the second week of May · 452 checklists that week, 11,011 in all15%
De Baca CountyBest mid December · 45 checklists that week, 2,203 in all13%
Curry CountyBest mid December · 107 checklists that week, 2,926 in all13%
San Juan CountyBest early September · 84 checklists that week, 5,542 in all12%
Harding CountyBest mid December · 10 checklists that week, 932 in all11%
McKinley CountyBest late January · 39 checklists that week, 2,545 in all9.3%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in New Mexico?: Cedar Waxwings reach New Mexico in late July, are common by late August, peak in the second week of May (4.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early June. They are the only regular waxwings in New Mexico.
When do waxwings leave New Mexico?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left New Mexico by early June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.
When is the best time to see waxwings in New Mexico?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 4.6% of New Mexico checklists.