When do waxwings leave West Virginia?

Most Cedar Waxwings have left West Virginia by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late December.

When is the best time to see waxwings in West Virginia?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid August, on about 31% of West Virginia checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in West Virginia?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings reach West Virginia in early May, are common by mid May, peak in mid August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by early November. They are the only regular waxwings in West Virginia.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 1-7early May

Common byMay 15-21mid May

PeakAug 15-21mid August

Most gone byNov 1-7early November

Best: mid August. First arrivals early May; most are gone by early November. Peak: on about 31% of West Virginia checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marrare
Aprrare
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Waxwings in West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	May 1-7	May 15-21	Aug 15-21	Nov 1-7	31%

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 West 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Wetzel CountyBest early September · 18 checklists that week, 1,196 in all82%
Marion CountyBest mid August · 87 checklists that week, 5,628 in all65%
Tucker CountyBest the second week of August · 301 checklists that week, 9,201 in all62%
Barbour CountyBest late August · 40 checklists that week, 1,534 in all60%
Lewis CountyBest the second week of July · 24 checklists that week, 1,802 in all55%
Pleasants CountyBest mid September · 16 checklists that week, 1,671 in all54%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in West Virginia?: Cedar Waxwings reach West Virginia in early May, are common by mid May, peak in mid August (31% of checklists), and most are gone by early November. They are the only regular waxwings in West Virginia.
When do waxwings leave West Virginia?: Most Cedar Waxwings have left West Virginia by early November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late December.
When is the best time to see waxwings in West Virginia?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in mid August, on about 31% of West Virginia checklists.