Cedar Waxwings in Montana
When cedar waxwings are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect cedar waxwings in Montana
Cedar Waxwings live in Montana all year. Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, 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.
Warm, dry summers and a short growing season.
- Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Montana plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
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 Montana 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 Montana's winter: Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Montana year-round?
Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Montana.
When do cedar waxwings nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana 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 Montana?
Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Common hackberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.