Waxwings in Finland
When the Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is present in Finland, when it nests, and which native Finland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Finland
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- July
- Size
- 18 cm, 55 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect waxwings in Finland
The Waxwing arrives in Finland in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Brief, bright summers; nesting is compressed into May–July.
Boreal continental, forested and lake-strewn.
Nesting in Finland
In Finland the Waxwing usually nests July. Nest site: cup in arctic conifers. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 14 days; chicks fledge after 14–15 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Waxwing does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Finland plants for waxwings
Of the native plants we track for Finland, these 8 provide food the Waxwing uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Red arils (not the seeds) eaten by thrushes; dense evergreen roosts.
Berry-like cones taken by thrushes in winter.
Feeding in the garden
Berries — rowan, cotoneaster and apples.
- Best foods: Apples.
- Rarely uses feeders.
- Irrupts every few winters; check supermarket car parks with rowans.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are waxwings in Finland all year?
No. The Waxwing is a summer visitor to Finland, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do waxwings nest in Finland?
Typically July. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 14 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help waxwings in Finland?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose, Bramble, Yew, Juniper are native to Finland and provide food or cover the Waxwing uses.
Waxwings in other countries
Other garden birds in Finland
Sources
- Waxwing — RSPB bird guide
- Waxwing — BTO BirdFacts
- Finnish Bird Atlas — Finnish Museum of Natural History
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.