Cedar Waxwings in Minnesota
When cedar waxwings are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect cedar waxwings in Minnesota
Cedar Waxwings live in Minnesota all year. Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, cedar waxwings typically nest from July–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 short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red-osier dogwood, serviceberry, eastern red cedar for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Minnesota plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
White fruit and red-stemmed winter cover.
Early-summer fruit.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding cedar waxwings through the Minnesota 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 Minnesota's winter: Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Minnesota year-round?
Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Minnesota.
When do cedar waxwings nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs July–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract cedar waxwings in Minnesota?
Red-osier dogwood, Serviceberry, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
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 — Minnesota
- 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.