Bohemian Waxwings in Alaska
When bohemian waxwings are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.
- Status in Alaska
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 1a–8a
When to expect bohemian waxwings in Alaska
Bohemian Waxwings are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in July and leaving after the young are independent.
Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.
Nesting in Alaska
Across Alaska, bohemian waxwings typically nest from July. Plan around that window: June for setup, July for clean-out.
A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.
- Bohemian Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red-osier dogwood, western serviceberry, salal for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Alaska plants that attract bohemian waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 6 provide food or cover bohemian waxwings use:
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Dark berries and evergreen understory cover.
Spring flowers for Rufous Hummingbirds, early fruit for thrushes.
Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.
Arctic berry that survives under snow into spring.
Feeding bohemian waxwings through the Alaska year
- Top foods: Raisins, Chopped apple.
- In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for bohemian waxwings · Best feeder for bohemian waxwings
Frequently asked
Are bohemian waxwings in Alaska year-round?
No. Bohemian Waxwings are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.
When do bohemian waxwings nest in Alaska?
Nesting in Alaska typically runs July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract bohemian waxwings in Alaska?
Red-osier dogwood, Western serviceberry, Salal, Salmonberry, Bearberry, Crowberry are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for bohemian waxwings.
Bohemian Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alaska
Sources
- Bohemian Waxwing — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bohemian Waxwing life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Bohemian Waxwing — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alaska
- 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.