Where Do Cedar Waxwings Live? (Habitat, Range + Distribution)

Cedar Waxwing (Bumblebee) is the smallest of three of the Bombycillidae family and the most widespread of the two American waxwings. These bluebird-sized beauties have a yellowish lower body, light gray upper body, black eye patch and prominent crest. They get their name from the waxy red tips of the secondary feathers.

Cedar Waxwings have a habit of appearing and disappearing before you know it, but where exactly do they live and what drives them to move?

Cedar Waxwings can be found almost anywhere in the lower 48 states in winter, although they are found year-round in the northern part of the country. They also nest in northern Canada, where most are visitor breeding grounds, and overwinter south of the border as far as Central America.

Cedar Waxwing migration is irregular, depending on local weather and food availability, so you may not see them in the same area every year. Nonetheless, they have become more common over the past few decades, expanding their breeding range in the southeast, northeast and northwest.

Wherever fruit trees like juniper and cedar are in season, birders should keep an eye out for these sociable birds. They frequent a variety of habitats, from suburban parks to forests to waterways in arid environments. However, these birds are absent in the Southeast and Southwest during the summer breeding season, when they nest in Canada and the northern half of the United States.

This article provides an in-depth look at the distribution and habitat of the Cedar Waxwing, an elegant-looking nomadic species. Read on to find out when and where you might see these fruit-eating songbirds.

In winter, cedar waxwings can be found almost anywhere in the lower 48 states, although they occur year-round in the northern half of the country

What is the distribution range of Cedar Waxwings?

Cedar Waxwings are only found in the New World. They have a wide geographic range, from central Canada north to the continental United States, and south from Mexico to Costa Rica and Panama.

Cedar Waxwings occasionally migrate south to Columbia, but they can also be found farther from home. Birdwatchers have seen the birds in Iceland, Ireland and even the Isles of Scilly off the southwest coast of England.

Read on to learn more about their distribution in the US and Canada.

Where does Cedar Waxwings live in the United States?

Cedar Waxwings occur in the lower 48 states of the United States as breeding and wintering nomads. They also reach the northern limit of their breeding range in southernmost Alaska.

Cedar Waxwings breed south from the Canadian border to around the 40th parallel, which stretches from northern California to New York. Their dens are a little further south to the east than to the west, in the southernmost states of Nevada, Colorado, Arkansas, and Alabama.

During the non-breeding season, Cedar Waxwings can be found in any of the lower 48 states of the United States as they seek out seasonal food sources. They are most common in central Texas and the southeastern coastal plain, and least common in the southwestern United States.

Closeup shot of a cedar waxwing eating berries on a branch

Where do cedar waxwings live in Canada?

Cedar Waxwings are widely distributed in the southern half of Canada. Although they live year-round near the U.S. border, they are breeding tourists for much of the country.

Cedar Waxwings occur in the following Canadian provinces:

• british columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• ontario
• Quebec
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• prince edward island
• Newfoundland and Labrador

Read on to learn about preferred habitats for Cedar Waxwings.

Cedar Waxwings are widely distributed in the southern half of Canada

What is the habitat of the Cedar Waxwing?

The availability of resulting plants determines the distribution of Cedar Waxwings. These nomadic birds are most common in woodlands, although they are excellent at finding isolated food sources. They will visit backyards and urban areas where ornamental fruit trees are common.

Their breeding habitat includes woodlands and woodlands along rivers and streams, but they avoid dense forests. They will also breed in orchards, old farmland and young plantations.

Cedar Waxwings avoid deserts, grasslands, and other open areas when migrating, although they will follow waterways that provide suitable environments for fruiting plants. They will also visit towns and cities where parks and backyards provide a reliable source of food.

During the non-breeding season, these birds will be found where fruit is plentiful. These areas include a wide variety of different habitats, from forests to sage thickets. Cedar Waxwings often inhabit where the following fruiting plants occur:

• firethorn
• mistletoe
• elderberry
• Toyo
• cedar
• Juniper
• serviceberry

A pair of cedar waxwings eating berries in their natural habitat

How rare is it to see a cedar waxwing?

Cedar Waxwings are most common during winter in the southeastern United States, but can be unpredictable elsewhere. These birds are more reliably seen in suitable habitats in the northern United States, where they live year-round.

Cedar Waxwings are listed as “Least Concern” by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), and their numbers are increasing.

They seem to have benefited from the use of fruit trees in urban landscapes and the conversion of old farmland into forests. They also enjoy protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Cedar Waxwings are plentiful, but tracking them down can be tricky. Read on for some great discovery tips.

Cedar Waxwings drinking from the Connetquot River in Islip, New York

Where’s the best place to watch Cedar Waxwings?

It’s hard to predict when and where Cedar Waxwings will appear. The best places to see them are in places where fruit trees are abundant but isolated. Good food sources attract birds and concentrate their numbers.

Fruit and berry production may fluctuate from year to year depending on the weather, but old fields, open woodlands and riparian areas are often suitable for these plants. Keep an eye out for large flocks of birds making high-pitched whistles.

However, cedar waxwings can quickly devour berries in a localized area, so don’t expect them to stick around for long.

When will Cedar Waxwings appear?

Cedar Waxwings are diurnal birds. They come out in the morning and actively feed during the day. These birds typically congregate for tree roosts at night, although there is some evidence that they migrate at night.

Close up of a Cedar Waxwing perched on a willow tree

Will Cedar Waxwings Stay in One Place?

Cedar Waxwings are partially migratory, with some birds trekking long distances to their wintering grounds, while others move nomadicly in search of food. The birds stay close to the nest during the breeding season but disperse during the non-breeding season.

Cedar Waxwings exhibit low breeding location fidelity and typically breed in different areas each year.

A study in the Midwest found that fewer than 5 percent of banded birds return to their previous nesting location, while another Canadian study found no returning birds. They display the same lack of loyalty to their wintering grounds, with some visiting vastly different regions each year.

Cedar Waxwing eating berries from a berry bush in Marion County, Illinois

Where do cedar waxwings live in winter?

The cedar waxwing occurs in winter from Central America to southern Canada. Many waxwings migrate south to escape the harsh northern winters, and the birds are most common in states such as Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Where do cedar waxwings live in summer?

Summer is the breeding season for these masked crested songbirds. Cedar Waxwings inhabit wooded areas from the mid-latitudes of the United States (Northern California to Virginia) to central Canada and southeastern Alaska.

Cedar Waxwings include insects in their diet in summer and fall. They often forage along waterways and near lakes, where fruit trees are abundant and aquatic insects hatch to provide an additional food source.

A flock of cedar waxwings and an American robin

Do Cedar Waxwings live in groups?

Cedar Waxwings are gregarious and non-territorial, even during breeding season. They typically occur in flocks year-round, although the largest aggregations are formed during migration and the winter non-breeding season.

Cedar Waxwings also move and forage with other birds. Sometimes they migrate in flocks with the American robin (birds) and with the similar Bohemian peacebird (Bumblebee).