Click here to learn more about the How to Identify article series.
Name: Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrodum)
Range and typical habitat(s): North and Central America from Canada to Costa Rica, from coast to coast throughout range. These migratory birds are only found in most of their Canadian range during the breeding season; the northern portion of the United States may see them year-round, while their wintering-only grounds include the southern half of the U.S. and all points south of that.
They prefer wooded or semi-open areas with plenty of trees and woody shrubs. These offer plenty of shelter, as well as the fruits that are the mainstay of their diet. While they are abundant in the wild, they will also reside in suburban and urban areas that have sufficient greenspace. This adaptability means their numbers have remained relatively stable, compared to other species whose populations have been shrinking in recent decades.
Distinguishing physical characteristics:
Size/Shape/Proportions – Total length generally 5.5 – 7 inches. They are of medium build, neither particularly slender nor stocky, with typical songbird proportions and a slender beak making up approximately 40% of the skull length. The tail is of medium length and makes up about 25% of the entire length of the bird. The head features a crest of feathers that may be raised with excitement. The tip of the tail is squared off, and in flight the wings are somewhat triangular with a pointed tip.
Colors – These striking birds are a beautiful light brown on the head and breast that almost appears to have a slight pink tint in the right light; the upper part of the body is gray, though the boundary between gray and brown on each bird may vary. The wings and tail are gray, sometimes with brown “shoulders” on the upper part of the wings when folded. The belly is decidedly yellow, while the underside of the tail is white.
Adult cedar waxwings have a black mask stripe over the eyes that wraps up toward the crest, and has fine white lines above and below it. The throat just below the beak is also dark. A good look at the tips of the secondary wing feathers reveal the red spots that look like drips of candle wax, giving the bird its name; some birds may lack these spots. The tail feathers are also tipped, but in bright yellow, though they may be orange if the bird has excessively eaten the berries of invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) species.
Juvenile cedar waxwings are less brilliantly colored, tending toward a brownish-gray body and head with a white belly, and the facial mask is less extensive. They won’t get their crest or red wingtips until adulthood.
Behaviors – Cedar waxwings are delightfully social birds, and having a flock of them descend on a bush of berries in winter is a treat to watch. Even during breeding season they will nest close to their waxwing neighbors. Their courtship rituals are also adorable, involving hopping back and forth, passing a little gift of food between each other. They raise one to two nests of young a year, each clutch consisting of anywhere from 2-6 babies that have hatched out of light blue or gray eggs, sometimes with darker gray spots.
These birds are primarily frugivorous, subsisting on berries and other fruit throughout the year. However, during warmer months they’ll also supplement their diet with insects and other small arthropods. (Native plants are a great way to provide them with both types of food.) They require wooded and shrubby areas to find food and nesting sites, and are quite tolerant of human activity. People nearby may hear the waxwings’ high-pitched trilling and whistling calls; flocks of the birds can create quite a racket of twittering sounds.
In spring it is not uncommon to find cedar waxwings intoxicated by fermented berries from the previous year. As with humans, this can cause uncoordinated movement, and they may injure themselves flying into trees, buildings and other solid objects.
Movement – Waxwings often fly in large groups with swift, short wingbeats similar to that of common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). When foraging they will hop from branch to branch, swallowing berries whole, and picking off convenient insects when present. They are also known to hunt insects over water, skimming and swooping like swallows.
Other organisms it could be confused with and how to tell the difference: The Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is almost exactly alike in appearance as the cedar waxwing. However, it is a little larger, and lacks the cedar’s yellow coloration, instead having a gray belly; the brown coloration is limited primarily to the head and neck, and cinnamon under the tail. Look at the folded wing of a Bohemian waxwing, and you’ll see a white stripe that is missing from a cedar’s wing.
The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is also a small gray passerine bird with a crest of feathers on the head, but it is significantly smaller than the waxwings. It has a gray head, back, wings and tail, sometimes with a slight brown tint, and a white belly. The sides are rust-colored, though these may extend over most or all of the breast and belly in some individuals. Titmice lack the black mask of the waxwing, and have white on their face and throat. They also do not have the red and yellow tips on their flight feathers.
Further Reading:
All About Birds – Cedar Waxwing
Audubon Field Guide – Cedar Waxwing
ABC Bird Library – Cedar Waxwing
