Cedar Waxwings: March 28, 2005


Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Found throughout most of the United States and Canada, the Cedar is the most familiar of the waxwings. Sleek and elegantly plumaged, the adult Cedar Waxwing never seems to have a feather out of place. This species is a berry-feeder, but when insects are present it often flycatches for them. Click image to enlarge
Description 6½ - 8” (16.5 - 20.5 cm). The adult Cedar Waxwing lacks the uniform gray appearance of the Bohemian and has a browner back and breast and a yellowish belly. The undertail coverts are white; the wings do not show white and yellow spots, although the Cedar does have a whitish edge on the secondaries that is visible when the bird is at rest. There is a yellow band on the tail. Juveniles tend to be grayer overall; they are diffusely streaked, especially on the underparts, and have little or no black around the eye and throat. Voice A hissing, high-pitched, lisping ssse sssee seee; notes sometimes slightly trilled. Similar to Brown Creeper’s note. Similar Species Bohemian Waxwing grayer and a bit larger (although the size difference is not usually obvious without direct comparison); both adults and juveniles have rust-colored undertail coverts and white wing patches. Range Breeds from southeastern Alaska, central British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, central Manitoba, Ontario, southern Quebec, and Newfoundland south to northern parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, central Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and Virginia. Winters from southern parts of British Columbia, Montana, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New York, and New England south to South America and West Indies. Kim S. Eckert All text taken from The Audubon Society Master Guide To Birding* Book 3, Chanticleer Press Inc., NY 1988*
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