Cedar Waxwings in Illinois

Cedar Waxwings live in Illinois all year. Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.

Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.

Across Illinois, 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.

Hot, humid summers; much of the state is farmland, so backyard native plantings matter.

• Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

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

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 Illinois's winter: Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species.

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