Cedar Waxwings in Florida
When cedar waxwings are present in Florida, when they nest, which native Florida plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 8a–11b yard.
- Status in Florida
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 8a–11b
When to expect cedar waxwings in Florida
In Florida, cedar waxwings are winter visitors rather than breeders. Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October. While here they rely on juniper, holly and crabapple.
Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.
Native Florida plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Florida, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
Waxy winter berries and dense evergreen cover.
Late-summer purple fruit clusters.
Blooms spring through summer.
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding cedar waxwings through the Florida 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 Florida's winter: Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Florida year-round?
No. Cedar Waxwings are winter visitors in Florida and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract cedar waxwings in Florida?
Wax myrtle, American beautyberry, Coral honeysuckle, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Smooth sumac, Black cherry are native plants in Florida that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Florida
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 — Florida
- 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.