WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Texas?

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

Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by early December, peak in the second week of March (16% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in Texas.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 8-14the second week of November
Common byDec 1-7early December
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 November; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 16% of Texas checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febpeak season
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Sepnot usually seen
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decpeak season

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

Waxwings in Texas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingNov 8-14Dec 1-7Mar 8-14May 8-1416%
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 Texas 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 Texas

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Burleson CountyBest late April · 228 checklists that week, 6,966 in all40%
  2. Shelby CountyBest mid December · 16 checklists that week, 1,347 in all36%
  3. Gregg CountyBest the second week of March · 70 checklists that week, 2,000 in all35%
  4. Wise CountyBest late April · 203 checklists that week, 4,530 in all35%
  5. Palo Pinto CountyBest late January · 91 checklists that week, 3,569 in all35%
  6. Castro CountyBest mid February · 22 checklists that week, 371 in all33%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Texas?
Cedar Waxwings are winter birds in Texas: the first arrive in the second week of November, they are common by early December, peak in the second week of March (16% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular waxwings in Texas.
When do waxwings leave Texas?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Texas 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 Texas?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of March, on about 16% of Texas checklists.