When do cedar waxwings arrive in Alberta?
The Cedar Waxwing is a summer breeder in Alberta — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Cedar Waxwing timing in Alberta
- Arrives
- Around June
- Leaves
- By September
- Status here
- Summer breeder
- Nesting season
- July–August
- Present roughly
- June–September
In Alberta, cedar waxwings are present through the warm months, arriving around June and heading south again by September.
These windows are set by latitude: Alberta sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here runs later than the continental average — the season starts later this far north and the birds wait for it. In any given year, weather can move the first arrivals by a week or two either way.
Month by month in this state
Highlighted months are when cedar waxwings are expected in Alberta. The edges of the window are the interesting weeks — first arrivals and last departures vary most from year to year.
Getting ready before they arrive
The week before June is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early June — the first cedar waxwings into Alberta are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Once nesting begins around July, adults switch to protein-rich food for their young and visits to feeders become quick and purposeful. Expect the busiest activity at dawn.
What cedar waxwings eat while they're here
- Serviceberry, cherry and mulberry fruit
Waxwings wander in flocks after fruit crops and rarely use feeders — fruiting natives and water are the draw.
Full Cedar Waxwing diet guide → · Best feeder for cedar waxwings →
Native plants that hold cedar waxwings in Alberta
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Alberta-native plants are known to attract cedar waxwings:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do cedar waxwings arrive in Alberta?
cedar waxwings typically arrive in Alberta around June, with nesting underway by July. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do cedar waxwings leave Alberta?
Most cedar waxwings have left Alberta by September. They spend the winter farther south and return the following spring.
Do cedar waxwings stay in Alberta all year?
No — in Alberta the Cedar Waxwing is a summer breeder, present roughly June–September. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before cedar waxwings arrive in Alberta?
Have feeders up and clean by early June — first arrivals scout reliable food sources. Good offerings for this species: serviceberry, cherry and mulberry fruit.
Sources
- Cedar Waxwing — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cedar Waxwing life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cedar Waxwing — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.