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Escarpment Magazine Winter 2014
Cedar Waxwings are named for the small, red, wax-like appendage on the end
of their secondary feathers. The number of these waxy appendages increases
with age, until adult plumage is attained.
This medium-sized, sleek and elegant bird has a large head, short neck, and
short, wide bill. Waxwings have a crest that often lies flat and droops over the
back of the head. The wings are broad and pointed, like a starling’s. The tail is
fairly short and square-tipped. They have a short, broad bill and short legs. Both
sexes look alike — buffy brown on the head and back. The brown colour shades
to pale yellow on the belly and to gray brown on the back, fading further to slate
gray on the rump and upper tail which is tipped with a yellow band. The undertail
coverts are white and their legs and feet are black. Adults have a narrow, black
mask outlined in white that extends over the face ending in a point behind each
eye and a black chin.
Cedar Waxwings are social birds that you’re likely to see in flocks year-round.
During winter, these beautifully hued birds can be very confident and will come
into gardens for berry bushes and trees and to drink from bird baths. They range
independently of either their breeding range or where they spent the previous
winter. In summer, look for them in woodlands of all kinds, and at farms, or-
chards, and suburban gardens where there are fruiting trees or shrubs. They will
sit in fruiting trees swallowing berries whole, or plucking them in mid-air with a
brief fluttering hover. Occasionally a Cedar Waxwing will become drunk or
even die from eating berries that have fermented. They will also cruise over water
for insects, flying like tubby, slightly clumsy swallows.
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Cedar Waxwings are social
and non-territorial and will
often groom each other.
They travel in flocks of 40
or more birds. They often
will appear in a spot with a
good crop of berries and
when they have eaten all
the berries, they move on!
