cedar waxwing
1. Bird Name
The English name of this bird is Cedar Waxwing, and its Latin scientific name is Bombycilla cedrorum.
2. Appearance
Cedar Waxwings are sleek birds with a charismatic charm due to their distinctive array of colors and patterns. They are primarily cinnamon-colored with a striking crest and mask-like black eyestripe outlined in stark white. An eye-catching feature of the Cedar Waxwing is the bright red-wax droplet-like snippets found on the wing feathers, from which they derive their name. The tail is typically yellow-tipped. Their beak is short and broad, ideal for a largely fruit-based diet. There is no significant difference between males and females, making them sexually monomorphic.
3. Size
Cedar Waxwings are roughly 6–7 inches in length. Their wingspan ranges from 8.7–11.8 inches. In terms of weight, these birds are quite light, falling within the range of 1.1–1.4 ounces generally.
4. Habitat & Distribution
Cedar Waxwings are found throughout North America, inhabiting the regions from southern Canada down to the northern fringes of South America. However, their distribution is patchy, mostly concentrated in areas with abundant fruiting trees. They thrive best within forest edges, orchards, and suburban gardens. These birds are also commonly found in urban areas, including parks and residential areas that have a diverse variety of fruiting trees and shrubs.
5. Interesting Facts
Cedar Waxwings exhibit a unique behavior, demonstrated by flock members passing berries back and forth among themselves in a line, making them possibly the most sharing of all North American birds. Another interesting aspect is their fondness for overripe and fermented fruits, which can occasionally lead to intoxication. Cedar Waxwings are creatures of beauty, so much so that they have been depicted on the Canadian quarter as a symbol of elegance and sociality.
6. Diet
Cedar Waxwings are known for their fondness for berries and small fruits, such as cherries and berries from juniper and dogwood shrubs, largely supplementing their diet. They’re flexible outriders in terms of their feeding habits, occasionally indulging in flowers and sugary sap, along with insects during the summertime.
7. Behavior & Sounds
One of the most charming characteristics of Cedar Waxwings is their high, thin, whistling call. This pitch is often heard echoing among their flocks, especially during their periodic feeding frenzies on berries and fruits. They display a social nature, often participating in communal roosting and foraging with active communication within the flock.
8. Conservation Status
The Cedar Waxwing has a conservation status of ‘Least Concern’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
9. Lifespan
On average, Cedar Waxwings can live anywhere between 6–13 years in the wild. Lifespan data for those in captivity are scarce due to their typical free-living nature.
10. Additional Notes
Cedar Waxwings are showstoppers in their interaction with humans, especially birdwatchers, due to their tame demeanor. They play a significant ecological role in seed dispersion due to their diet, over long distances. In other languages, the Cedar Waxwing is known as “Jaseur des cèdres” in French and “Ampelis Americano” in Spanish. Their Latin name, Bombycilla cedrorum, hilariously translates to ‘silk-tailed cedar bird’. These beautiful birds exemplify the harmonious blend of elegance, resilience, and social rendezvous in the natural world.
