Cedar Waxwings are elegant fruit specialists that travel in nomadic flocks following berry crops. They love raisins, dried cranberries, cherries, and any blend with dried fruit content. They don't eat seeds in the traditional sense — it's all about fruit for these birds. Planting berry-producing shrubs is the best long-term strategy, but fruit-rich blends and suets will attract passing flocks.

Waxwings don't use typical seed feeders. A large platform feeder or tray stocked with raisins, chopped fruit, and fruit-forward blends is your best approach. They feed in flocks and need space, so a wide open platform works better than a small hopper. Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs (mountain ash, crabapple, serviceberry) in your yard are the ultimate waxwing magnet.

The secret to a waxwing-friendly yard is fruit-bearing trees and shrubs — and lots of them. Mountain ash, crabapple, serviceberry, winterberry holly, dogwood, and viburnum are all waxwing magnets. They travel in flocks and can strip a tree of berries in a single afternoon, so planting multiple fruiting species that ripen at different times extends their visits across the season. A water feature with moving water (dripper or mister) is also a powerful draw, as waxwings drink and bathe frequently.

Start with the right food, keep feeding consistent, and create a space birds feel safe returning to again and again.

Small changes in food, feeder choice, and consistency can make a big difference.