Birdsong field guide
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
A sleek, social songbird recognized by its silky brown plumage, black mask, and distinctive red waxy tips on its secondary wing feathers.
What it sounds like
Very high-pitched, thin, wavering whistles or buzzy 'seee' calls, often lacking a true melodic song.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The red 'wax' droplets on their wings are actually hardened secretions of astaxanthin pigment derived from their fruit-heavy diet.
- They are one of the few North American birds capable of surviving on fruit alone for several months at a time.
- Individuals may develop an orange tail tip instead of yellow if they consume invasive Morrow's honeysuckle berries while molting.
- Flocks exhibit unique social behavior where birds pass a single berry down a line until one finally eats it.
- They are among the latest-nesting birds in North America, timing their reproduction to coincide with peak summer fruit ripening.
Habitat
Open woodlands, orchards, riverside thickets, and suburban areas with abundant fruiting trees and shrubs.
Range
Breeds across southern Canada and the northern United States; winters throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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