Cedar Waxwing in May
Where cedar waxwings are in May, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
May in the Cedar Waxwing's year
May is the peak of the birding year. Migration floods the North, dawn chorus is at its loudest, and nesting is underway across most of the continent. By month's end the first broods of the year are hatching in mid-latitudes.
For the Cedar Waxwing specifically, May is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 61 states and provinces where cedar waxwings occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where cedar waxwings are in May
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In May, cedar waxwings are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in May
Cedar waxwings are not nesting in May. The season runs June–August at mid-latitudes, starting roughly a month earlier in the South.
Outside the nesting season, cedar waxwings put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in May
- Serviceberry, cherry and mulberry fruit
Waxwings wander in flocks after fruit crops and rarely use feeders — fruiting natives and water are the draw.
Adults feeding nestlings need easy calories. Some species that ignored feeders all winter now visit regularly, and you may see fledglings brought to feeders by their parents.
Full Cedar Waxwing diet guide → · Best feeder for cedar waxwings →
Watching cedar waxwings this month
Cedar waxwings are settled and predictable in May, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region cedar waxwings are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Cedar Waxwing month by month
Cedar Waxwing by state
Frequently asked
Where are cedar waxwings in May?
In May, cedar waxwings are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do cedar waxwings nest in May?
No — cedar waxwings typically nest June through August at mid-latitudes.
What do cedar waxwings eat in May?
Serviceberry, cherry and mulberry fruit.
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
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.