Cedar Waxwings in Virginia
When cedar waxwings are present in Virginia, when they nest, which native Virginia plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–8a yard.
- Status in Virginia
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–8a
When to expect cedar waxwings in Virginia
Cedar Waxwings live in Virginia all year. Moderate winters with periodic snow; purple finches and occasional northern finches visit feeders. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward juniper, holly and crabapple.
Humid subtropical in the east, cooler and snowier in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny highlands.
Nesting in Virginia
Across Virginia, 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; House Wrens and hummingbirds breed statewide.
- Cedar Waxwings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, spicebush, winterberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Virginia plants that attract cedar waxwings
Of the regional native plants we track for Virginia, these 8 provide food or cover cedar waxwings use:
Fall fruit.
High-fat red berries and caterpillar host.
Winter fruit.
Nectar and small fruit.
Winter cover.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Feeding cedar waxwings through the Virginia 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 Virginia's winter: Moderate winters with periodic snow; purple finches and occasional northern finches visit feeders.
Full diet breakdown for cedar waxwings · Best feeder for cedar waxwings
Frequently asked
Are cedar waxwings in Virginia year-round?
Yes. Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in Virginia.
When do cedar waxwings nest in Virginia?
Nesting in Virginia 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 Virginia?
Flowering dogwood, Spicebush, Winterberry, Trumpet honeysuckle, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in Virginia that provide food or cover for cedar waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Virginia
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 — Virginia
- 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.