The best bird feeder and seed for cedar waxwings
Fruit specialists that rarely visit feeders at all. Plant serviceberry, winterberry and juniper; a bird bath is the other reliable draw.
Which feeder types do cedar waxwings use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform or tray feeder | Anything | None at all | Draws the widest range of species, including ground feeders. Needs a mesh floor for drainage and daily cleanup. |
Feeders cedar waxwings use, budget to premium
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What seed do cedar waxwings like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit (oranges, apples, berries) | Orange halves on a spike are the standard oriole offer. Replace fruit before it ferments. | Fresh only |
Food to buy for cedar waxwings
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Where and when should you feed cedar waxwings?
- Height and spot: Fruiting trees.
- When: Nomadic flocks follow fruit crops.
- Range: Most of the US.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, bluebirds and wrens, which use the same feeder types.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Quail
Get the cedar waxwings feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for cedar waxwings on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for cedar waxwings?
A platform or tray feeder is the most reliable choice for cedar waxwings. Fruit specialists that rarely visit feeders at all. Pair it with fruit (oranges, apples, berries), place it fruiting trees, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a platform or tray feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do cedar waxwings eat at feeders?
In order of preference: fruit (oranges, apples, berries). Orange halves on a spike are the standard oriole offer. Replace fruit before it ferments. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for cedar waxwings?
Fruiting trees. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so cedar waxwings can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do cedar waxwings come to feeders?
Nomadic flocks follow fruit crops. Range: Most of the US. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season cedar waxwings are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do cedar waxwings use birdhouses?
No. Cedar waxwings build open nests in shrubs, trees or on the ground and do not use enclosed nest boxes. Dense native shrubs, brush piles and leaving leaf litter in place do far more for them than any structure.