WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Pennsylvania?

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

Cedar Waxwings reach Pennsylvania in mid April, are common by mid May, peak in early June (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular waxwings in Pennsylvania.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 15-21mid May
PeakJun 1-7early June
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: early June. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 28% of Pennsylvania checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Waxwings in Pennsylvania, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingApr 15-21May 15-21Jun 1-7Nov 8-1428%
0%10%20%30%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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Elk CountyBest the second week of August · 86 checklists that week, 6,751 in all59%
  2. Sullivan CountyBest late July · 106 checklists that week, 4,362 in all57%
  3. Wayne CountyBest early September · 180 checklists that week, 10,444 in all51%
  4. Forest CountyBest the second week of August · 151 checklists that week, 5,388 in all48%
  5. Warren CountyBest the second week of September · 62 checklists that week, 5,449 in all48%
  6. Clearfield CountyBest early September · 122 checklists that week, 9,768 in all47%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Pennsylvania?
Cedar Waxwings reach Pennsylvania in mid April, are common by mid May, peak in early June (28% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular waxwings in Pennsylvania.
When do waxwings leave Pennsylvania?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Pennsylvania by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid January.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Pennsylvania?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in early June, on about 28% of Pennsylvania checklists.