When do waxwings leave Wisconsin?

Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Wisconsin: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.1% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see waxwings in Wisconsin?

The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 35% of Wisconsin checklists.

Cedar Waxwing · Bombycilla cedrorum

When Do Waxwings Arrive in Wisconsin?

Photo: Sean Frey, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Cedar Waxwings are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of August (35% of checklists), and fall back by late September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 2.1% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Wisconsin.

When to look

Numbers buildJun 1-7early June

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Fall back bySep 22-30late September

FewestMar 15-21mid March

Best: the second week of August. Here all year; numbers build from early June and fall back by late September. Peak: on about 35% of Wisconsin checklists.

Janrare
Febrare
Marrare
Aprrare
Maycommon
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Waxwings in Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Cedar Waxwing	Jun 1-7	Jun 1-7	Aug 8-14	Sep 22-30	35%

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for Cedar Waxwing

Share of checklists at the peak

Green CountyBest late August · 43 checklists that week, 4,387 in all67%
Dunn CountyBest the second week of September · 107 checklists that week, 8,247 in all60%
Marquette CountyBest early August · 73 checklists that week, 3,706 in all58%
Menominee CountyBest early August · 36 checklists that week, 745 in all57%
Taylor CountyBest the second week of August · 71 checklists that week, 4,326 in all54%
Ozaukee CountyBest the second week of August · 452 checklists that week, 38,294 in all54%

Common questions

When do waxwings arrive in Wisconsin?: Cedar Waxwings are in Wisconsin all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from early June, peak in the second week of August (35% of checklists), and fall back by late September. In the quietest week (mid March) they are still on about 2.1% of checklists. They are the only regular waxwings in Wisconsin.
When do waxwings leave Wisconsin?: Cedar Waxwings never fully leave Wisconsin: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.1% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see waxwings in Wisconsin?: The Cedar Waxwing is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 35% of Wisconsin checklists.