Cedar Waxwing (Winter Birds of Fundy National Park / Oiseaux d'hiver du parc national Fundy)

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Summary ⁷

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a member of the family Bombycillidae or waxwing family of passerine birds. It is a medium sized, mostly brown, gray, and yellow bird named for its red wax-like wing tips. It is a native of North and Central America, breeding in open wooded areas in southern Canada and wintering in the southern half of the United States, Central America, and the far northwest of South America. It eats "Cedar cones,...

Bombycilla cedrorum ⁸

The smaller of the two North American waxwings, the Cedar Waxwing (7 1/4 inches) is also brighter and more colorful than its northern relative, the Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus). This species may be identified by its light brown body and crest, yellow flanks, black face mask, and red waxy-tipped feathers on the wings. Male and female Cedar Waxwings are similar at all seasons. The Cedar Waxwing breeds across Northern Canada and the northern half of the U.S. This species migrates southward in winter, when it may be found in across the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Cedar Waxwings tend to be highly nomadic during winter, moving in flocks in search of food. Thus, while this species may be found all year in north-central portions of the United States, waxwings wintering in these areas are not necessarily the same birds that bred there the summer before, and are more likely birds from further north. Cedar Waxwings breed in woodland interspersed with clearings with small fruit-bearing shrubs. Waxwings primarily consume fruits and berries, and this habitat type supports this species’ oddly specific dietary requirements. In winter, waxwings may be found wherever berries, particularly those of cedars, are plentiful. Often, Cedar Waxwings are most easily observed foraging in trees and shrubs. Depending on the location of fruit on the tree, these birds may be high in the canopy, low to the ground, or anywhere in between. Cedar Waxwings may also be observed undertaking short, straight flights between trees or longer flights between feeding areas or on migration. This species is primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least Concern