Cedar Waxwing
Image: djweyer (cc-by-nc)
NameCedar Waxwing
Common NameCedar Waxwing
Scientific NameBombycilla cedrorum
FamilyBombycillidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)15.5
Weight (g)32
Plumage DetailsSoft, silky plumage; pale brown head and breast fading to a pale yellow belly; gray back and wings. Features a distinct black mask across the eyes bordered by white, a prominent crest, and a bright yellow tip on the tail feathers. Many adults also have small, red, waxy tips on their secondary flight feathers.
Vocalization / CallHigh-pitched, thin, trilled 'see-see-see' or 'sreee' calls, often given in flight or while perched. They do not have a complex song.
Primary Dietfrugivore
Primary Habitatsopen woodlands, orchards, gardens, forest edges, riparian areas, suburban areas
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across southern Canada and the northern United States; winters throughout the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. They are nomadic, moving in response to fruit availability.
Identifying Featuresprominent crest, black mask, yellow tail tip, silky brown and yellow plumage, red waxy wingtips (often hard to see), high-pitched trilled call
Description
The Cedar Waxwing is a sleek, medium-sized bird characterized by its silky, brown-to-yellow plumage and a prominent crest. These highly social birds are often seen in flocks, foraging for berries and fruits in trees and shrubs.
