WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Virginia?

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

Cedar Waxwings are in Virginia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in mid May (19% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (mid February) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Virginia.

When to look

Numbers buildMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Fall back byJun 8-14the second week of June
FewestFeb 15-21mid February

Best: mid May. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of May and fall back by the second week of June. Peak: on about 19% of Virginia checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

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

Waxwings in Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingMay 8-14May 8-14May 15-21Jun 8-1419%
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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Craig CountyBest late August · 46 checklists that week, 1,834 in all48%
  2. Buchanan CountyBest the second week of September · 37 checklists that week, 1,612 in all47%
  3. Waynesboro CountyBest the second week of October · 76 checklists that week, 3,400 in all47%
  4. Appomattox CountyBest the second week of August · 117 checklists that week, 4,946 in all45%
  5. Russell CountyBest early August · 13 checklists that week, 770 in all44%
  6. Clarke CountyBest late May · 256 checklists that week, 8,388 in all43%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Virginia?
Cedar Waxwings are in Virginia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of May, peak in mid May (19% of checklists), and fall back by the second week of June. In the quietest week (mid February) they are still on about 4.0% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Virginia.
When do waxwings leave Virginia?
Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by the second week of June, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.0% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Virginia?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid May, on about 19% of Virginia checklists.