Cedar Waxwings in Nevada
When cedar waxwings are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect cedar waxwings in Nevada
Cedar Waxwings live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, 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.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, red-osier dogwood, rocky mountain juniper for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Nevada plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Tart red fruit that persists into winter.
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens.
Low evergreen with winter-persistent red fruit.
Feeding cedar waxwings through the Nevada 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 Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do cedar waxwings nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada typically runs June–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 11–13 days.
What native plants attract cedar waxwings in Nevada?
Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Buffaloberry, Prickly pear, Bearberry are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
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 — Nevada
- 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.