When do waxwings leave Rhode Island?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left Rhode Island by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early January.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Rhode Island?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of June, on about 31% of Rhode Island checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Rhode Island?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings reach Rhode Island in the second week of April, are common by mid May, peak in the second week of June (31% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular waxwings in Rhode Island.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April

Common byMay 15-21mid May

PeakJun 8-14the second week of June

Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: the second week of June. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 31% of Rhode Island checklists.

Janrare
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprrare
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Waxwings in Rhode Island, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Apr 8-14	May 15-21	Jun 8-14	Nov 8-14	31%

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Washington CountyBest the second week of June · 1086 checklists that week, 65,038 in all36%
Newport CountyBest mid June · 449 checklists that week, 33,574 in all30%
Providence CountyBest the second week of June · 651 checklists that week, 40,898 in all30%
Kent CountyBest the second week of June · 308 checklists that week, 16,966 in all29%
Bristol CountyBest the second week of June · 339 checklists that week, 15,899 in all23%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Rhode Island?: Cedar Waxwings reach Rhode Island in the second week of April, are common by mid May, peak in the second week of June (31% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular waxwings in Rhode Island.
When do waxwings leave Rhode Island?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left Rhode Island by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early January.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Rhode Island?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of June, on about 31% of Rhode Island checklists.