When do cedar waxwings arrive in Arizona?
The Cedar Waxwing is a winter visitor in Arizona — here is when to expect it, when it leaves, and how to be ready.
Cedar Waxwing timing in Arizona
- Arrives
- Around November
- Leaves
- By February
- Status here
- Winter visitor
- Present roughly
- November–February
In Arizona, cedar waxwings are a cold-season bird, arriving around November and heading back north to breed by February.
These windows are set by latitude: Arizona sits in the middle part of this species' range, so timing here tracks the continental average closely. 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 Arizona. 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 November is the time to act. Have feeders cleaned, filled and out by early November — the first cedar waxwings into Arizona are scouting for reliable food, and a station that's ready early gets added to their route.
Through the winter, consistent food matters more than variety — birds map dependable stations into their daily routes and rely on them hardest during cold snaps.
What cedar waxwings eat while they're here
- Juniper, holly and crabapple
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 Arizona
Food keeps a migrant for a day; habitat keeps it for the season. These Arizona-native plants are known to attract cedar waxwings:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked
When do cedar waxwings arrive in Arizona?
cedar waxwings typically arrive in Arizona around November. Timing can shift a week or two with the weather in any given year.
When do cedar waxwings leave Arizona?
Most cedar waxwings have left Arizona by February. They spend the breeding season farther north and return in the fall.
Do cedar waxwings stay in Arizona all year?
No — in Arizona the Cedar Waxwing is a winter visitor, present roughly November–February. Outside that window it is rarely seen in the state.
What should I put out before cedar waxwings arrive in Arizona?
Have feeders up and clean by early November — 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 — Arizona
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.