When do waxwings leave South Carolina?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left South Carolina by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.

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

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in South Carolina?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of March (11% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in South Carolina.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 8-14the second week of October

Common byNov 8-14the second week of November

PeakMar 8-14the second week of March

Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: the second week of March. First arrivals the second week of October; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Junrare
Julrare
Augnot usually seen
Seprare
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in South Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Oct 8-14	Nov 8-14	Mar 8-14	May 8-14	11%

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 South 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 South Carolina

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Lee CountyBest late November · 19 checklists that week, 1,310 in all24%
Kershaw CountyBest late March · 335 checklists that week, 10,450 in all23%
Lancaster CountyBest early January · 28 checklists that week, 2,265 in all23%
Darlington CountyBest early May · 102 checklists that week, 2,791 in all21%
Saluda CountyBest early December · 16 checklists that week, 1,965 in all21%
Cherokee CountyBest early May · 62 checklists that week, 2,823 in all21%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in South Carolina?: Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in South Carolina: the first arrive in the second week of October, they are common by the second week of November, peak in the second week of March (11% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in South Carolina.
When do waxwings leave South Carolina?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left South Carolina by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late May.
When is the best time to see waxwings in South Carolina?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 11% of South Carolina checklists.