Utah · Winter visitor

Bohemian Waxwings in Utah

When bohemian waxwings are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
Status in Utah
Winter visitor
Nesting window
Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones
USDA 4a–9a

When to expect bohemian waxwings in Utah

In Utah, bohemian waxwings are winter visitors rather than breeders. Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.

Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.

Native Utah plants that attract bohemian waxwings

Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, these 8 provide food or cover bohemian waxwings use:

Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia · Vine

Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.

Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.

Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Golden currant
Ribes aureum · Shrub

Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.

Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia · Shrub

Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.

Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea · Shrub

Tart red fruit that persists into winter.

Feeding bohemian waxwings through the Utah year

  • Top foods: Raisins, Chopped apple.
  • In Utah's winter: Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.

Full diet breakdown for bohemian waxwings · Best feeder for bohemian waxwings

Frequently asked

Are bohemian waxwings in Utah year-round?

No. Bohemian Waxwings are winter visitors in Utah and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract bohemian waxwings in Utah?

Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Buffaloberry are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for bohemian waxwings.

Bohemian Waxwings in other regions

Other backyard birds in Utah

Black-capped ChickadeeDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican GoldfinchWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenHouse FinchMourning DoveAmerican RobinDark-eyed JuncoSong SparrowChipping SparrowNorthern FlickerRed-breasted NuthatchBrown CreeperRed-winged BlackbirdEvening GrosbeakPine SiskinGray CatbirdNorthern MockingbirdCedar WaxwingTree SwallowBarn SwallowYellow-rumped WarblerEastern KingbirdAmerican Tree SparrowHouse SparrowEuropean StarlingSteller's JayWoodhouse's Scrub-JayBlack-billed MagpieCanada JayMountain ChickadeeBushtitJuniper TitmousePygmy NuthatchBlack-chinned HummingbirdBroad-tailed HummingbirdCosta's HummingbirdLesser GoldfinchCassin's FinchSpotted TowheeGambel's QuailCalifornia QuailWestern BluebirdMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeCactus WrenVerdinBewick's WrenWhite-crowned SparrowFox SparrowViolet-green SwallowBlack-headed GrosbeakLazuli BuntingBullock's OrioleEurasian Collared-DoveAmerican CrowCommon RavenCooper's HawkSharp-shinned HawkRed-tailed HawkGreat Horned OwlAmerican KestrelWild TurkeyMallardGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherBrown-headed CowbirdRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletHermit ThrushPine GrosbeakRed CrossbillGray CatbirdWestern TanagerPhainopeplaBlack-throated SparrowLark SparrowGreen-tailed TowheePinyon JayClark's NutcrackerWestern Screech-OwlHooded MerganserBand-tailed PigeonYellow WarblerCommon YellowthroatAmerican RedstartYellow-breasted ChatOrange-crowned WarblerRed-eyed VireoWarbling VireoLeast FlycatcherWestern KingbirdVermilion FlycatcherAsh-throated FlycatcherCliff SwallowNorthern Rough-winged SwallowBank SwallowCommon NighthawkCanada GooseAmerican CootKilldeerSpotted SandpiperBlack-crowned Night HeronTurkey VultureOspreyBald EagleMerlinPeregrine FalconNorthern Saw-whet OwlBurrowing OwlLewis's WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerSavannah SparrowVesper SparrowSnow BuntingLapland LongspurHorned LarkWhite-winged CrossbillGray-crowned Rosy-FinchCactus WrenGreater RoadrunnerBobolinkYellow-headed BlackbirdBrewer's BlackbirdGreat-tailed GrackleRock Pigeon

Sources

  1. Bohemian Waxwing — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Bohemian Waxwing life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Bohemian Waxwing — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Utah
  5. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  6. 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.