Cedar Waxwing
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cephas" title="User:Cephas">Cephas</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameCedar Waxwing
Common NameCedar Waxwing
Scientific NameBombycilla cedrorum
FamilyBombycillidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)15.5
Weight (g)32
Plumage DetailsFeatures a silky, fawn-brown plumage on the head, back, and breast, fading to pale yellow on the belly. It has a prominent crest, a black mask across the eyes bordered by white, and a bright yellow tip on its tail. Some secondary wing feathers often have distinctive red, wax-like tips.
Vocalization / CallHigh-pitched, reedy, trilled 'szeee' or 'sibilant' calls, often given in flight or while perched. They lack a complex song.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsopen woodlands, orchards, gardens, forest edges, riparian areas
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across southern Canada and the northern United States; winters throughout the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, sometimes extending into northern South America.
Identifying Featuresprominent crest, black mask across eyes, yellow-tipped tail, silky brown plumage, red wax-like tips on secondary feathers
Description
The Cedar Waxwing is a sleek, medium-sized bird characterized by its silky, fawn-brown plumage and a distinctive crest. They are highly social, often seen in flocks, and are primarily known for their fruit-eating habits, especially berries.
