Cedar Waxwings in Michigan

Cedar Waxwings live in Michigan all year. Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.

Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.

Across Michigan, 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.

A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for Michigan, 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 Michigan's winter: Lake-effect snow and long cold spells; Purple Finches breed in the north and winter farther south.

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