WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Tennessee?

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

Cedar Waxwings are in Tennessee all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in mid November (17% of checklists), and fall back by late December. In the quietest week (early August) they are still on about 3.4% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Tennessee.

When to look

Numbers buildNov 1-7early November
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Fall back byDec 22-31late December
FewestAug 1-7early August

Best: mid November. Here all year; numbers build from early November and fall back by late December. Peak: on about 17% of Tennessee checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in Tennessee, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingNov 1-7Nov 1-7Nov 15-21Dec 22-3117%
0%5%10%15%20%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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Houston CountyBest late November · 29 checklists that week, 1,234 in all65%
  2. Campbell CountyBest mid October · 55 checklists that week, 3,619 in all42%
  3. Monroe CountyBest the second week of November · 94 checklists that week, 5,763 in all39%
  4. Perry CountyBest mid November · 39 checklists that week, 3,047 in all37%
  5. Johnson CountyBest late September · 68 checklists that week, 1,558 in all35%
  6. Unicoi CountyBest the second week of September · 16 checklists that week, 1,598 in all33%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Tennessee?
Cedar Waxwings are in Tennessee all year, but most are here in winter: numbers build from early November, peak in mid November (17% of checklists), and fall back by late December. In the quietest week (early August) they are still on about 3.4% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Tennessee.
When do waxwings leave Tennessee?
Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Tennessee: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late December, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.4% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Tennessee?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid November, on about 17% of Tennessee checklists.