Cedar Waxwings in Colorado
When cedar waxwings are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect cedar waxwings in Colorado
Cedar Waxwings live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, cedar waxwings typically nest from June–August. Nest site: loose cup in tree forks, often late June. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 11–13 days, and young leave the nest after 14–18 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper, pin cherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Colorado plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
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.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Feeding cedar waxwings through the Colorado year
Waxwings wander in flocks after fruit crops and rarely use feeders — fruiting natives and water are the draw.
- Best foods: Fresh or frozen berries.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do cedar waxwings nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs June–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract cedar waxwings in Colorado?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
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 — Colorado
- 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.