When do waxwings leave North Carolina?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.4% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in North Carolina?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 13% of North Carolina checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in North Carolina?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early May, peak in the second week of May (13% of checklists), and fall back by late May. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 4.4% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in North Carolina.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 1-7early May

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Fall back byMay 22-31late May

FewestFeb 8-14the second week of February

Best: the second week of May. Here all year; numbers build from early May and fall back by late May. Peak: on about 13% of North Carolina checklists.

Jancommon
Febuncommon
Maruncommon
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Waxwings in North Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	May 1-7	May 1-7	May 8-14	May 22-31	13%

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Mitchell CountyBest mid August · 42 checklists that week, 2,981 in all50%
Yancey CountyBest early September · 247 checklists that week, 11,714 in all35%
Watauga CountyBest mid August · 438 checklists that week, 24,164 in all33%
Hertford CountyBest mid March · 23 checklists that week, 1,343 in all32%
Swain CountyBest the second week of July · 161 checklists that week, 5,669 in all32%
Avery CountyBest the second week of August · 157 checklists that week, 8,724 in all31%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in North Carolina?: Cedar Waxwings are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early May, peak in the second week of May (13% of checklists), and fall back by late May. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 4.4% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in North Carolina.
When do waxwings leave North Carolina?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late May, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.4% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in North Carolina?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 13% of North Carolina checklists.