Ohio · Year-round resident

Cedar Waxwings in Ohio

When cedar waxwings are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Waxwings (Bombycillidae)Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum

Status in Ohio: Year-round resident
Nesting window: June–August
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect cedar waxwings in Ohio

Cedar Waxwings live in Ohio all year. Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Nesting in Ohio

Across Ohio, 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, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

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

Native Ohio plants that attract cedar waxwings

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

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early fruit.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

High-fat fall berries.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter cover and fruit.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

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

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

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 Ohio 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 Ohio's winter: Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north.

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

Frequently asked

Are cedar waxwings in Ohio year-round?

Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Ohio.

When do cedar waxwings nest in Ohio?

Nesting in Ohio 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 Ohio?

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

Other backyard birds in Ohio

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina 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 Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

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.