WhenToBird

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Washington?

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

Cedar Waxwings reach Washington in early May, are common by mid May, peak in late June (28% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular waxwings in Washington.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May
Common byMay 15-21mid May
PeakJun 22-30late June
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: late June. First arrivals early May; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 28% of Washington checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Waxwings in Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Cedar WaxwingMay 1-7May 15-21Jun 22-30Oct 1-728%
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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wahkiakum CountyBest the second week of August · 88 checklists that week, 5,618 in all53%
  2. Clark CountyBest early June · 1130 checklists that week, 53,250 in all50%
  3. Cowlitz CountyBest mid June · 282 checklists that week, 15,273 in all45%
  4. Skamania CountyBest early August · 219 checklists that week, 10,140 in all44%
  5. Columbia CountyBest mid August · 21 checklists that week, 1,894 in all42%
  6. Thurston CountyBest early June · 1438 checklists that week, 68,352 in all40%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Washington?
Cedar Waxwings reach Washington in early May, are common by mid May, peak in late June (28% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular waxwings in Washington.
When do waxwings leave Washington?
Most Cedar Waxwings have left Washington by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early December.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Washington?
The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in late June, on about 28% of Washington checklists.