New York · Year-round resident

Cedar Waxwings in New York

When cedar waxwings are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

Status in New York: Year-round resident
Nesting window: June–August
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–7b

When to expect cedar waxwings in New York

Cedar Waxwings live in New York all year. Long, snowy winters upstate; lake-effect snow belts make feeders and roost boxes important. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.

Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.

Nesting in New York

Across New York, 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.

Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.

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

Native New York plants that attract cedar waxwings

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

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Winter fruit.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Staghorn sumac

Rhus typhina · Shrub

Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

Feeding cedar waxwings through the New York 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 New York's winter: Long, snowy winters upstate; lake-effect snow belts make feeders and roost boxes important.

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

Frequently asked

Are cedar waxwings in New York year-round?

Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in New York.

When do cedar waxwings nest in New York?

Nesting in New York 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 New York?

Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, Black cherry are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.

Other backyard birds in New York

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Canada Jay Fox Sparrow

Sources

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.